24th National Fish Farmers Day Celebrated Role of Fish Farm in Meeting Needs Noted

IMPHAL, July 10 (DIPR)
The 24th National Fish Farmers Day was celebrated today at the office complex of Directorate of Fisheries Lamphelpat, Imphal West to recognise the contribution of fish farmers and their commitment towards sustainable aquaculture.
The programme was organised by the Directorate of Fisheries, Government of Manipur.
National Fish Farmers Day is celebrated every year on July 10 to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions of fish farmers, aquaculture professionals and other stakeholders who contribute to a sustainable and thriving fisheries sector.
Addressing the gathering, MH Khan, Special Chief Secretary, Forests, said that fisheries are the future of Manipur’s economy.
The deficit in fish production that the state faced earlier has been largely overcome thanks to efficient, hardworking and dedicated fish farmers and the use of modern technologies, he said.
Fish farming helps meet the growing demand for fish protein and generates employment. Khan spoke about how Andhra Pradesh and other South Indian states play a major role in the fish sector and said that fish farmers here also play a major role in promoting the indigenous Sareng (Wallago attu).
There was a huge gap in the demand and supply of fish in Manipur. To bridge this gap, the Chief Minister gave an action plan under which Central Agricultural University (CAU), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other experts started the Sareng Project in 2020, he said.
Khan further said that the Indian government has introduced the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to improve the fisheries sector.
Director Fisheries H Balkrishna Singh lauded farmers for their contribution in improving fish production of the state. Six successful farmers who have contributed immensely in promoting Sareng were felicitated at the event. Principal Secretary (Fisheries) Neeta Arambam was present at the event.