All you need to know about Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

Ashish M. Shaji

13 Sep, 2022

The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana was recently launched digitally. 20050 crore rupees has been sanctioned for the implementation of this yojana during 5 year period from the Financial Year 2020-21 to Financial Year 2024-25 in all States and Union territories. It is part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package.

What is Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana?

It is a flagship scheme for focused & sustainable development of the fisheries sector in India. This scheme focuses on beneficiary oriented activities in Marine, Inland and Aquaculture. It seeks to adopt the area based or cluster based approach.

Background of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

Fisheries and aquaculture is an crucial source of food, employment, nutrition and income in India. It caters livelihood to more than 20 million fishers as well as farmers at the primary level and fish being affordable and rich source in animal protein, is the healthiest option to mitigate hunger and malnutrition.

The Gross Value Added of fisheries sector during 2018-19 in the national economy stood at 212915 crore rupees which constituted 1.24 per cent of the total national Gross Value Added and 7.28 per cent share of Agricultural Gross Value Added. The sector has great potential to double the fishers and the income of fish farmers as envisioned by government and bring in economic prosperity.

 The fisheries sector has displayed great growth in India with an average annual growth rate of 10.88 per cent during the year 2014-15 to 2018-19. The fish production has registered an average annual growth of 7.53% in last five years in India. It stood at an all time high of 137.58 lakh metric tons in the year 2018-19.

Foreseeing this immense potential for development of fisheries and in order to provide focussed attention to the sector, the government in its Union Budget announced this new scheme that is PM Matsya Sampada Yojana^[1]. This scheme intends to address issues such as low productivity in inland aquaculture, disease, sanitary and phyto-sanitary matters that impact the competitiveness of Indian exports along with global bench marking.

What is the aim and objective of this scheme?

The aim and objective of this scheme are as follows:

• Harnessing the potential of fisheries in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner.
• It aims to enhance the production of fish and productivity through expansion, diversification, intensification and productive utilization of land and water.
• To modernize and strengthen the value chain- post harvest management and improvement of quality. 
• To double fishers and fish farmers income and focus on employment generation activities like seaweed and ornamental fish cultivation.
• To consolidate achievement of the blue revolution and bring new interventions like fishing vessel insurance, integrated aqua parks, support for new/upgradation of fishing vessels and boats, e-trading/marketing etc.
• To establish a robust fisheries management framework and aims to check gaps in the value chain. 
• To provide social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish farmers.

What is the significance of this scheme?

Its significance can be deduced by the following factors:

• This scheme will create modern infrastructure with an efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet.
• It is expected to increase the growth of food processing sector in India.
• It is expected to increase GDP, raise employment opportunities and investment.
• It is expected to reduce the wastage of agricultural products.
• It may result in providing better prices to farmers and thereby double their income.

What is the target of this scheme?

There are multiple targets that this scheme seeks to achieve. Some of its targets are as mentioned below:

• To enhance the production of fish by an additional 70 lakh ton and increase the earnings from the export of fisheries to 100000 crore rupees by 2024-25.
• To double the income of the fishers and fish farmers.
• To lower post harvest losses from 20-25% to about 10%.
• To generate an additional 55 lakh direct and indirect gainful employment opportunities in fisheries sector and allied activities.
• Sustained average annual growth of 9% in the production of fish.
• To enhance domestic consumption of fish from about 5 to 6 kg to 12 kg per capita.

Implementation strategy of Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana

It shall be implemented as an umbrella scheme with two components:

I) Central Sector Scheme and II) Centrally sponsored scheme.

It recognizes the critical role of states and union territories for its effective implementation. In case of crucial areas of national importance, the entire cost shall be borne by the Central Government.

The implementation strategy of this scheme includes providing modern fishing boats with upgraded facilities for deep fishing, better maintenance of fishes, providing transport for its movement, adequate provision of value chains, thrust on water management and spatial planning supported by the regulatory framework, taking steps for infusing new emerging technologies such as Re-circulatory Aquaculture systems, Biofloc, Aquaponics Cage cultivation to enhance the production and productivity, productive utilization of wastelands and water for Aquaculture.

Under this scheme there are some pioneering approaches such as promotion of start-ups in Fisheries and Aquaculture, incubation centres, encouraging innovations, entrepreneurship models. 

Does this scheme plan to introduce new species of fish?

Under this Yojana, species diversification, promotion of high value species such as the Seabass, mud crab, Scampi and thrust on Penaeus indius including establishing a national network of brood banks for all commercially essential species is envisaged.

Thrust is given to genetic improvement of commercially important fish species for the first time and establishing nucleus breeding centre for self reliance in shrimp brood stock. Also, development of coastal fisher communities in a holistic way through integrated modern fishing villages is envisaged for the first time. Collectivization of fishers, as well as fish farmers to increase the bargaining power of fishers and fish farmers through Fish Farmer Producer Organization, is another strategy under this Yojana.

Who is set to benefit from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana?

The intended beneficiaries of this Yojana include the following:

• Fishers;
• Fish Farmers;
• Fisheries Development Corporations;
• Fish workers and Fish vendors;
• Self help groups/ Joint Liability Groups in the fisheries sector;
• Fisheries federations and fisheries co-operatives;
• Entrepreneurs and private firms;
• Fish Farmer Producer Organization/Companies; and
• SCs/STs/Differently abled persons/ Women.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana Funds

Last year the cabinet set up special fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund of Rs. 7533 crore. The fund will be used for the creation of fisheries infrastructure facilities in marine as well as inland fisheries sectors.

Conclusion

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