Smt. J. Mercykutty Amma, Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries,
Shri Kadakampally Surendran, Hon’ble Minister for Co-operation & Devaswom,
Shri V.S. Sivakumar, Member of Legislative Assembly,
Adv. V.K. Prasanth, Mayor, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Adv. Rakhi Ravikumar, Deput Mayor,
Adv. V K Madhu, President, Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat
Dr. S. Karthikeyan, IAS, Director of Fisheries,
Smt. K. M. Lethy, Additional Director of Fisheries
Priyappetta Malsya karshakare
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
I am very happy to inaugurate the National Fish Farmers’ Day Celebration organized by the Fisheries Department, Government of Kerala with the aim of encouraging aqua culture in the State. Let me at the outset, compliment the Government of Kerala and the Fisheries Department for deciding to celebrate this Day by honouring Aqua farmers for their success and contributions. I congratulate all the 54 Aqua farmers who are being honored in this function.
As we all know, National Fish Farmers’ Day celebrates the memory of India's remarkable breakthrough in Fish Seed Technology in 1957. It was on this day that the first success in induced breeding was achieved at Angul in Odisha by Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri with the support from Dr. K.H. Alikunhi. It marked the beginning of Blue Revolution in India and paved the way for an aqua-explosion in the country mainly through quality major carp seed production and supplies to fish farmers for culture. In addition, it gave rise to hundreds of hatcheries all over the country. And, we in Kerala can be proud that Dr. Alilkunhi who pioneered the work hails from Thrissur and that he had served as Advisor to Government of Kerala in various aquaculture development programmes.
Today, fisheries is no longer a small part of agriculture. It has proved its relevance in India and the world, through its increasing contribution to the national economy. Fish production, which lay at 0.75 million tonnes in 1951 has increased to over 8.3 million tonnes at present. When we consider the marine capture landings in the last six decades, the increase has been six-fold, from nearly 0.53 million tonnes in 1950 to 3.59 million tonnes in 2014-15.
The number of people who make a livelihood out of the fisheries sector also has increased to around 14 million in India. Of this, the Marine sector alone employs over four million people, spread across 3,827 fishing villages along the coasts. When it comes to foreign exchange generated by fishing, India's export of fish products stands at over Rs.30,421 crores, which was second only to rice in foreign exchange earnings.
These impressive figures are certainly a matter of pride, but they also remind us of our obligation to improve facilities in this sector. The marine fisheries sector in the country has benefited a lot from the mechanization and industrialization in the last seven decades. But, the marine fisheries sector also struggles with several issues related to decline of fishery stock, marine pollution, depletion of oceanic resources and so on. Our dependence on the sea is no longer limited to food alone. It has widened to the search for medicines, industrial products etc. This has resulted in the acceleration of the rate of loss of biodiversity, which may lead to what scientists call a biodiversity crisis. This calls for stricter measures to protect the marine bio-diversity.
Coming to Kerala, the fisheries sector certainly plays a crucial role in our overall economic development. But, as all of us are aware, we are now going through a ban on fishing trawlers in our territorial waters. This has been necessitated through over fishing, due to which fish production in our Marine sector has been showing a declining trend over the last few decades. At present, the scope for further enhancement in fish production is limited to aquaculture. Therefore, it is imperative that we identify and promote aquaculture as an alternative means of increasing fish production in our State. But the question is, how prepared are we to take up this challenge?
The Keralites' love for fish is famous. It is said that Keralites eat all fish they can, and what they cannot, they Can, meaning preserve in cans for later use or sales. For the majority of people in our State, fish is an unavoidable item in their daily meal. And, Kerala has all the water resources needed for a variety of aquatic life. Kerala has around 210 species of fish. And, out of these, 53 species are specific to our region. It is in such a scenario that the State Government intends to increase the present aquaculture production from 40,000 metric tonnes to 80,000 metric tonnes within the next three years.
This certainly is a huge task, but if people offer their participation, there is nothing that cannot be achieved. I am certain that the second phase of ‘Janakeeya Malsya Krishi’ will succeed if we convince the people about the need to contribute to this endeavor through their participation. Convincing people is a major task, but we have achieved considerable success in convincing society about the need for organic farming. A similar approach would be needed here too.
Besides, farming of any kind should appeal to people as not just rewarding, but profitable too. There are many issues in aquaculture that need governmental intervention. Today, I am happy that a ‘Malsya Adalat’ is being held to attempt an immediate redressal of issues faced by the stakeholders. As a person from the Judiciary, and as one who has seen hundreds of Adalats, I can say that quick redressal of grievances would instill confidence in farmers.
Like in other areas, skill enhancement for running hatcheries and other aquaculture units has to be imparted to young people. They have to be brought up as professionals in business management. I would also point to the question of taste in the choice of fish. People in Kerala seem to be in love with marine fish and a bit reluctant to take to other kinds of fish, mainly due to lack of awareness about their nutritional value and taste. An aggressive campaign to promote aquaculture produce among the people is the need of the hour.
I hope that the discussions as part of the Fish Farmers Day Celebration would cover some of these aspects and encourage more people to take up aquaculture as a profession. I would request all the award winners to pledge to be Ambassadors of aquaculture in their localities so that they can guide aspiring farmers. I would also suggest that the people in the Fisheries Department should reach out to the masses and work in a target based approach to promote fishing in their service areas. The best performers among the staff should also be rewarded like farmers.
Before winding up, as the chancellor of the Fisheries University, I would like to inform the august audience a few lines about the projects under taken by the University in helping the fish farmers. Established in 2010, it is the first University in India, exclusively dedicated to studies in fisheries and allied disciplines, playing a leadership role in establishing new courses and extension activities for the well being and sustainable development of small scale fishermen.
To promote cage culture in coastal villages with the help of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Kerala State Fisheries Department, the University has implemented an integrated Fish Village Project – Samagra Matsya Gramam Project.
Besides these the University is also providing:
- Environment friendly Fish farming practices focusing on fresh water fish culture, brackish water fish culture, ornamental fish culture and cage culture.
- Training to fish farmers
- facilities to farmers to test their seed for viruses before stocking in shrimp grow-out farms.
- facilities for periodic testing for toxic materials in high valued marine fish sold in our markets.
- training on Aquatic animal disease surveillance with the help of fisheries department.
I compliment the Fisheries Department for organizing this Celebration in a befitting manner. I once again wish all the farmers greater success in coming years.
Ellaavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
