Centre Govt. Sponsored Welfare Schemes

OBJECTIVES OF THE FISH FARMER’S DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

1. Progressively reclaim and bring all potential under water boides fish culture such as swamps, beels, silted up/ neglected ponds, water logged/ low lying areas etc. for optimum fish production in the State;

2. To work out the programme in such a way that it serves as a nucleus of activity for further spread to other areas;

3. To provide training and popularize a new avocation by way of fish culture to the people thereby build-up a trained cadre of fish farmers to undertake intensive fish farming thus providing increased employment to rural unemployed;

4. Contribute to the strengthening of rural economy by making fish farming economically viable;

5. To effectively involve financial assistance to provide loans for capital investment to fish farmers for excavating ponds or for improving existing water areas; and;

6. To provide initial technical and financial assistance to the fish farmers and also as required from time to time.

A package of assistance is provided to the prospective fish farmers under different segments of the schemes, the detail of which is as under:

1. Renovation/Reclamation of ponds and Tanks: The scheme envisages renovation/reclamation of old ponds and tanks which are owned or taken on lease by the farmers. The estimated per hectare renovation cost of the pond is Rs. 75,000/- and subsidy @ 20% with a maximum of Rs. 15,000 /- for Non Scheduled Castes / other fish farmers and for S.C/S.T it is Rs. 18,750/-.per ha. (25%)

2. Construction of New Ponds: This scheme has been introduced only during 1991-92 with an aim to create more ponds for increased fish production. The unit cost of the scheme is Rs 4.00 lakhs per hac. in the plain areas including arrangement water supply either in the form of tube-well or gravity flow. The subsidy component is available @ 20% with a maximum of Rs. 80,000/- per hectare for Non Scheduled Castes / other farmers and for S.C/S.T farmers it is 1,00,000/- per hactare (25%).

3. Integrated Fish Farming: Population outburst and limited resources have necessitated integration of various activities, for increasing employment avenues, and enhanced productivity with minimum inputs. The scheme envisages  Assistance for setting up integrated units including hatcheries for Ornamental Fishes- Unit cost Rs. 15 lakhs which includes hatchery of 5-10 million capacity.

5. Construction of Fresh Water Prawn & other Fish Hatchery: Fish seed is the nucleus of aquaculture. The State department of Fisheries at its seed farms is producing 20.0 million fish seed annually which is even not sufficient to meet the fish seed stocking requirements of its reservoirs and open waters. Hence there is a need to involve private entrepreneurs in fish seed production. The scheme envisages Rs. 12.00 lakh for a fish seed hatchery with 10 million (fry) capacity for the plain areas and Rs. 16.00 lakh with same capacity for the hill States/ districts. Subsidy @ 10% with a maximum ceiling of Rs.1.20 lakhs in the plain and Rs. 1.60 lakhs in the hilly areas for entrepreneurs only.

6. Establishment of Fish Feed Unit: After meeting out the seed requirement of the beneficiaries. The next important part in the aquaculture is availability of the optimum quantity of the fish feed. For setting up of a fish feed unit the Govt. of India sanctioned the cost@ Rs. 7.5 lakh for building, machinery and equipment. These will be set up in the private sector. Subsidy @ 20% with a maximum ceiling of Rs. 1.50 lakh is admissible for each entrepreneurs.

9. Subsidy on 1stYear Inputs: The fish farmers who avail the benefits of Grant-in-Aid subsidy for the renovation and construction of ponds are also provided subsidy on the purchase of 1^st year inputs such as fish seed, feed and manure etc.@ 20% with a maximum ceiling of Rs 10,000/- per hactare for all farmers except SC’s/ST’s for whom it is Rs. 12,500/- per hac.(25%). The total cost per hac. has been allowed Rs.30,000/-