By Our Correspondent
SAMBALPUR: The Odisha government has welcomed the modern method of fish farming by installing fish cages in the Hirakud reservoir. The ‘Panjuri Fish Farming Common Facility Centre’, built on a land of 37 acres at a cost of about Rs 7 crore, will create a new chapter in the fish production sector of our state and will realize the vast potential of the Hirakud reservoir in Ratnaghar, said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan while inaugurating it.
Attending a special program organized at Hirakud in Sambalpur, Shri Pradhan said that Sambalpur district is the leader in fish production after Ganjam and Balasore. Fish production worth about Rs 500 crore is being done from Hirakud district and its surrounding areas, which is commendable. Steps will be taken to further increase fish production here. Modern facilities like cold storage and ice factories will be available to keep the fish safe. The quality of our fish will increase due to improved processing. As a result, it will be easy to send it not only to Odisha, but also to big markets in the country and to international markets.
Fisheries and animal husbandry are an important pillar for the economy of Odisha. About 1.2 million metric tons of fish are produced in the state. Only by doubling or tripling this can the local economy get strength along with the development of fisheries. Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is ‘Developed Odisha’ and ‘Developed India’. Towards realizing that vision, the Modi government has given about Rs 100 crore for establishing a modern fish farming and skill training center in Sambalpur Goshala Basantapur. Time-consuming training camps will be organized here with the support of the Double Engine government. Here, new ways of catching fish, modern techniques of cleaning and processing can be learned. This will not only increase the income of the fishermen, but will also create many new employment opportunities in the region.
Shri Pradhan said that this year 32 lakh quintals of paddy have been purchased in Sambalpur district, the value of which will be around Rs 1000 crore. Sambalpur district has immense potential in allied sectors like animal husbandry, dairy farming, vegetable farming along with fish farming. Only when agriculture and farmers prosper, the society will prosper. Shri Pradhan has also proposed to the district administration to promote organic fish farming.
State Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Ravi Nayak and Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister Gokulanand Mallick were prominent participants in the event.
