Meghalaya needs another 4,000 hectares of fish farms to enable the state to become self-sufficient.
Today, an interactive session was held by Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, the Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying with fish farmers of East Khasi Hills in Sohra. Also present was the state Director of Fisheries, AL Mawlong.
The Director informed the Union MoS that Meghalaya has utilised more than 75 per cent of the funds released in 2021-22 under the PMMSY, a centrally-sponsored scheme, and will place the requisition for subsequent release of funding.
Meghalaya currently has 3,500 hectares of ‘grow out ponds’ for the 27,000 fish farmers and this produces 18,000 tonnes of fish, more than half of the annual demand of 32,000 tonnes.
Mawlong told the visiting MoS that the state has a huge reserve of fishery resources and has the potential to attain self-sustainability in fish and fish seed production by increasing aquaculture areas through grow out ponds and quality seed production areas and would need an additional 4,000 hectares to be brought under aquaculture.
Meghalaya also has 79 fish sanctuaries, such as those that conserve the mahseer, which have gained popularity as ecotourism sites for national and international tourists.
