CM announces 50 pc grant on loans for Sareng producers
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR

Imphal, July 10 2021: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has announced that the State Government would provide loans with 50 percent grant to fish farmers who produce local Sareng and instructed the Fisheries Department to introduce a scheme in this regard soon.

N Biren Singh stated this while attending the 21st National Fish Farmers' Day, 2021 organised by Directorate of Fisheries at its office complex at Lamphelpat today.

He also stressed on the need to carry out advanced fish farming methods in the State to meet local demand for fresh fishes.

The State Government, since its formation, had identified some sectors including fishery which need prioritization, the CM said and added that the Government had provided financial assistance to many fish farmers under certain schemes to boost fish production.

The CM appreciated the Manipur State Co-operative Bank Ltd for providing loans worth around Rs 22 crore to fish farmers.

Maintaining that the Government had now made access to loans more convenient to farmers with a single clearance window system, the CM noted that this initiative had convinced borrowers to repay the loan on time too.

CM announces 50 pc grant on loans for Sareng producers

The capacity to produce fishes in the State had also increased from 31,000 MT to 33,000 MT per year now with the joint efforts of the Government and the fish farmers, Biren continued and added that this production capacity, however, had been affected to some extent by the pandemic.

The Chief Minister further informed that the Government is putting in its best efforts to produce sufficient quantities of fingerlings for supply to fish farmers at a lower rate.

Stressing on the need to make fish feed locally available to reduce the cost incurred in fish farming, the CM instructed the officials to inquire if the machine for producing fish feed is working properly and asked them to procure a new machine if needed.

He also appealed to the people to accomplish their duties with sincerity and work together in coordination to take the State on the path of development.

Delivering his presidential speech, Fisheries Minister Sorokhaibam Rajen maintained that the Government had taken up certain schemes to assist fish farmers and conducted training programmes on biofloc fish farming in the hill districts.

He informed that the Government had also provided land for three years, to landless farmers who want to carry out fish farming, on lease of Rs 20,000 per acre per year under the Loktak Livelihood Mission.

This would help in increasing fish production in the State, he added.

He also announced that one cold storage each would be constructed in Imphal West and Bishnupur district to prevent fish wastage.

Giving the key-note address, Director, Fisheries Heisnam Balkrisna Singh said that National Fish Farmers Day is celebrated on 10th July every year in memory of scientists Dr KH Alikunhi and Dr HL Chaudhary for their successful demonstration of Hypophysation (technology of induced breeding) in Indian Major Carps on July 10, 1957.He added that the day is also observed in recognition of the hard work and sincere efforts of fish farmers.

During the function, a cash reward of 'Best Fish Farmers - 2020' was distributed.

The highest producer in the group category was given Rs 1 lakh while the second and third highest producers in the individual category were rewarded Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.

The awardees were also provided a certificate and coffee table book of the Four Years Citizen Centric Government.

Later, the Chief Minister released a booklet highlighting the activities and achievements of the Fisheries Department in the past four years.

Commissioner, Fisheries M Harekrishna also attended the programme among others.