14 Sep
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Contents
- Highlight the significance of fisheries sector in India. Discuss the initiatives taken by government to promote fisheries sector in India and suggest measures to improve the fishery sector.
- Highlight the status of Diary sector in India. Discuss the challenges faced by the dairy sector in India and suggest measures to overcome them.
24-06-2023
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Answer :
India is the second largest producer of fish in the World (14.6 million tonnes in 2019-20) accounting for
about 7.58% of the global production. Of this, 65% is from Inland Fisheries. It is also a fast-growing sector.
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Significance of Fishery Sector for India: |
- GVA: GVA of the fishing sector is 1.24% of the National GVA and 7.28% of the Agricultural GVA.
- Growth: outstanding, double digit average annual growth of 10.87% since 2014-15 with record fish production of 145 lakh tons in FY 2020-21.
- Employment: The sector supports the livelihood of over 28 million people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable communities.
- Export earnings from the fishery sector have reached around 50,000 crores.
- Nutritional and Food Security (fishery fulfills 25% of global protein requirements)
- The livelihood opportunities provided by this sector have been instrumental in sustaining incomes of over 28 million people in India, especially marginalized and vulnerable communities, and has prompted meaningful socio-economic development.
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Key Initiatives by Government to Promote Fishery Sector: |
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna (PMMSY):
- Enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons by 2024-25 at an average growth rate of 9%.
- The scheme envisages an investment of Rs 20 thousand crores in five years
- Fisheries Rs 9,000 crore will be spent for developing infrastructure (such as fishing harbours, cold chain, markets)
- and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
- A dedicated Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) was established for five years, from 2018-19 to 2022-23, with an investment of ₹7,522 crore.
- KCC scheme extended to Animal Husbandry and Fishery Sector by Budget 2018-19
- A separate department of fisheries
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Challenges Faced by Fishery Sector: |
- Unorganized (especially among traditional fisherman)
- Poor Infrastructure -> capture, processing, and transportation
- Missing Policy Support -> Fishery sector doesn’t get the kind of subsidy, insurance, credit etc available to agriculture sector.
- Exotic Species of fish have started threatening the fishery sector.
- Increasing Pollution is becoming another hinderance in ensuring the proper growth of the fishery sector.
- Lack of awareness among farmers about the potential and opportunities available from the inland fisheries.
- Unsustainable exploitation by the corporate sector
Way Forward:
- Implementation of selected recommendations of Dr Meena Kumari Committee
- Creation of a buffer zone (between 200 meters and 500 meters depth)
- Proper use of fishing nets etc.
- Fishery should be provided with the same focus that is given to Agriculture sector.
- While agriculture receives a lot of focus in terms of subsidy, insurance, credit, power tariff etc, the fishery sector should also get the same focus.
- Promote Fish cooperatives.
- More focus on fishing cooperatives to reduce the limitations of small fishing farmers and fishermen.
- Training is crucial for enhancing the fishery sector. Inclusive skill development programs, with emphasis on north-eastern and hilly states can help increase the coverage of fishery sector in remote areas.
- R&D in the sector needs to improve.
- Improving Deep Sea focused infrastructure
While enhancing incomes through fisheries sector, it is significant to integrate the SDGs of ensuring incomes and livelihoods for poor. Further, the fishery development should be sustainable i.e. all the goals and targets should be achieved keeping future generations in mind and avoiding overexploitation/depletion of marine resources.
23-06-2023
Answer :
India is the world’s largest producer (20% of the world’s production) and consumer of milk and has the world’s largest dairy herd comprised of water buffaloes and indigenous and crossbred cattle. It is an important secondary source of income for 70 million rural households engaged in dairying and for 70% of the workforce that comprised women.
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Status of Dairy sector in India: |
- Milk Production in the country has increased from 146.3 million tonnes in 2014-15 to 209.96 million tonnes in 2020-21.
- The all India, per capita availability of milk is 427 g per day in 2020-21.
- Net Exporter: Since the early 2000s, India is a net exporter of the dairy products which primarily include the milk powder.
- It contributes to a fifth of India’s farm output and is important source of nutrition in average Indian diet.
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Key Problems in India’s Dairy Sector: |
- Despite all the above achievements, India’s dairy system suffers from low input, low output and low productivity per animal.
- Deteriorating Feed Quality
- Growth in crops production is slower than the growth in milk production. (Crop residue forms the largest share of the feed supply).
- Irrigated area under cultivate green fodder has only increased marginally.
- Land available for pasture and grazing is decreasing per capital animal.
- Reports of degradation of the pastures are also presented.
- Low Per capita output
- For e.g., in India annual milk yield per cow is 1642.9 kg, which is only 2/3rd of the global average of 2430.2 kg. The average for the USA is 10,457.4 kg.
- Weakness in R&D due to lack of infrastructure and quality human resources in the field.
- Livestock health is emerging as a major concern, especially with low numbers of veterinary hospitals.
- These problems have also impacted India’s export competitiveness.
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Way Forward for Dairy Sector: |
- How productivity can be further improved?
- Expansion of high yielding cross-bred dairy herd and improving and protecting the indigenous breeds.
- Continued growth in buffalo milk production.
- Both the above steps will require improving the now-deficient supplies of feeds.
- Focus more on cultivation of green protein rich feed (India’s tropical climate will support this)
- Promoting more R&D in the field of genetics.
- Training and Education of farmers regarding different aspects of animal breeding.
- Better Technology and Management: Bring down the cost of producing milk and increase competitiveness.
- Improve the sanitary and Phytosanitary requirements of our milk products to increase its exportability.
- Improve linkage between production and markets -> Promote more cooperatives; contract farming etc.
- Develop market for value added products.
- Increased Private investment.
The dairy sector in India has shown resilience and growth potential. With concerted efforts to address the challenges through technology adoption, infrastructure development, capacity building, and financial support, the sector can overcome these hurdles. This can unlock the true potential of the dairy sector, ensuring sustained growth, improved livelihoods for farmers.