Fish import down by 50 pc: H Dingo
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 08 2025: Improved fish production has reduced State's import of fish by 50 per cent, informed Fisheries Minister Heikham Dingo today.

He said this during a media awareness workshop held at the auditorium of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), Imphal today as a part of a Fishery Outreach Programme.

"Our fish production has increased over the years reducing the State's depen- dence on other States for local consumption," Dingo said.

To meet local consumption, Manipur now procures only Rs 200 crore worth fishes compared to Rs 400 crore earlier when the State's production was very low, he said.

Manipur produces around 4.5 crore Kilograms of fishes in a year when the actual demand is around 6.75 crore Kilograms.

Fish import down by 50 pc: H Dingo

The Fisheries Department is small but in a State like Manipur where fish is a part of daily diet, it is an important Department, said the Minister.

The State is yet to meet its own demand but efforts are being taken to increase fish production.

With the presence of many wetlands, the State has vast potential to meet its demand, Dingo said.

Fishes produced here are fresh and they are more beneficial to health.

Imported fishes are most of the time not fresh and they may contain preservatives which are harmful to health, he said.

Tripura is a smaller State than Manipur but it has employed scientific methods to increase fish production.

Farmers here should also adopt scientific methods and technologies to enhance production, he added.

Fish farmers must be aware of schemes the Government has launched.

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a scheme that gives loans and other benefits to fish farmers with the objective to increase production and income, Dingo said.

As a part of its efforts to improve the fish sector, the State Fisheries Department has revived and successfully reared and produced Meitei Shareng.

Even as the State's fisheries sector is improving and production has increased, it is not able to meet current the demand.

For production to meet demand, farmers must adopt scientific technologies.

Awareness programmes are a must to spread the know-how of fish farming to farmers, Dingo said.

Fisheries Director T Phulen, who attended the programme, also acknowledged that the State's dependence on imported fish has come down over the years.

The State has many wetlands which may be utilised to enhance fish production, he added.

DIPR Director, Ngangom Uttam informed that people may become familiar with many Government schemes through "My Scheme" mobile application.

EGM president, Khogendra Khomdram stressed on the importance of adopting safe and healthy practices by fishers.

He advised fishers against using electric currents, explosives and chemicals to catch fishes.

AMWJU president Bijoy Kakchingtabam and Manipur Hill Journalists Union (MHJU) president Peter Adani too attended the event.

The programme was organised by the Editors' Guild Manipur (EGM) under the aegis of the Directorate of Fisheries.