Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala, will participate in the Sagar Parikrama Phase-XI event in Odisha to recognize and honor the contributions of progressive fishermen, coastal fishermen, fish farmers, and young fisheries entrepreneurs. The event is scheduled to take place from January 7 to 9, 2024 at various locations across coastal districts, including Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, and Balasore.
During the Sagar Parikrama Phase-XI, the Union Minister will felicitate Kisan Credit Card (KCC) beneficiaries, shedding light on best practices and initiatives implemented through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme. The objective is to widely disseminate information about these schemes and encourage their adoption among the fishing community.
Diverse Participation and Coastal District Coverage
The event will witness the presence of senior officials from the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, Government of Odisha, National Fisheries Development Board, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India, and various fishermen associations. Campaigns on KCC and other activities will be conducted across the coastal districts of Odisha, involving state fisheries officials, fishermen representatives, fish-farmers, entrepreneurs, cooperative society leaders, professionals, scientists, and stakeholders from across the nation.
Odisha's Rich Aquatic Biodiversity and Fisheries Potential
Odisha, with its 480 km coastline, 24,000 km2 continental shelf area, 0.017 million km2 Exclusive Economic Zone, 33 seafood processing plants, 57 ice plants, and 3 fish & mp feed mills, is endowed with significant aquatic biodiversity. This wealth sustains more than 16 lakh fisher folk and supports various activities, including commercial fishing and aquaculture.
Progress of Sagar Parikrama Yatra
The Sagar Parikrama Yatra embarked on its journey from Mandvi, Gujarat, on 5th March 2022. So far, it has covered ten phases, spanning coastal States/UTs such as Gujarat, Daman & Diu, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.
Empowering Fishermen and Enhancing Quality of Life
Sagar Parikrama serves as a vital platform for improving people's quality of life and economic well-being by addressing their difficulties. It provides fishermen with the opportunity to engage directly with government authorities. The initiative aims to continuously resolve issues faced by fishermen and fish farmers, facilitating their economic upliftment through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
India's Fisheries Sector and Global Standing
With an 8% share in global fish production, India holds the position of the 3rd largest fish producer globally. It is the 2nd largest aquaculture producer, the largest MP producer, and the 4th largest seafood exporter. The fisheries sector is considered a sunrise sector, holding immense potential for equitable and inclusive growth, contributing to the economic empowerment of the weaker sections of society.
Sagar Parikrama aims to facilitate interaction with fishermen, coastal communities, and stakeholders to disseminate information about various fisheries-related schemes and programs implemented by the Government.
