UCM calls for judicious implementation of fishers' schemes
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, November 04 2022: United Committee Manipur (UCM) has stressed the need for a monitoring mechanism to check implementation of schemes for fish farmers.

UCM in association with fisheries department organised a one-day fisheries training programme cum distribution of nursery fishes at New Keithelmanbi community hall on Friday.

The training programme organised under the theme 'self-sufficiency in food' was attended by Yarou Bamdiar ZP member Samom Manglembi, UCM president Joy-chandra Konthoujam and Moidangpok GP pradhan Laishram Keinaton as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, Joychandra pointed out that all the indigenous communities of the state consume fish as a favourite food.

However, the state has not been able to produce enough fish to meet the demand and as a result, fishes are being imported from other states and countries.

UCM is organising the training programme keeping in view the need for enhancing fish production capacity in the state, he said.

The state government is also taking up different initiatives to enhance fish production capacity of the state.

Re-introduction of Sareng (Wallago catfish) is one such example of the government's initiative to boost fish production.

Besides, individual farmers are taking up their own initiatives to promote local indigenous fish species like Pengba and Ngaton among others.

Though these initiatives are important steps, the government also need to focus on other types of fishes to meet the local demand and it will help in reducing income outflow from the state, he said.

On the other hand, the government also needs to strictly monitor the implementation of various schemes for fish farmers to check if the benefits are reaching the targeted beneficiaries or being swindled away by fake farmers.

There is also the strong need to study and find out the reason behind the state's inability to utilise around half of the fund sanctioned by the Centre and work on remedial measures for full utilisation of funds, he said.

UCM secretary general Ng Deba also spoke on the impact of fish import to the economy of the state and stressed the need for concerted efforts to boost fish production in the state.

He also called for reviving the tradition of rearing fish in homestead land for consumption purpose, which was widely practiced by almost every family in the valley area some decades ago.

Fingerlings and seeds of winter crops were also distributed to the participating farmers on the occasion.

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