Shimla: The State Government has approved two ambitious schemes to strengthen the fisheries sector and safeguard the economic interests of fish farmers and fishermen by introducing the Risk Fund for Trout Farmers and Minimum Support Price (MSP) mechanism for reservoir fish. These initiatives aim to provide financial security to trout farmers affected by natural calamities and ensure remunerative prices to reservoir fishermen, thereby improving their livelihoods.
Under the Risk Fund for Trout Farmers scheme, a corpus of Rs. one crore has been provided by the State Government to extend financial assistance to registered trout farmers who suffer losses due to floods, cloudbursts, landslides and other natural calamities. Farmers will be required to contribute an annual subscription of Rs. 500 to avail the benefits of the scheme. Eligible farmers will receive compensation of Rs. 25,000 per raceway for the complete loss of 2,000 or more fingerlings/yearlings, with proportionate compensation for lesser losses.
In another major initiative, the State Government has introduced a Minimum Support Price of Rs. 100 per kilogram under Mukhya Mantri Machhuara Sahayata Yojna for reservoir fish to protect fishermen from market fluctuations and distress sales. If fish is sold through the authorized auction system below the stipulated MSP, the Government will provide a subsidy upto Rs. 20 per kg.
The State Government had also launched Mukhymantri Machhuara Samman Nidhi Yojna in the State under which Rs. 3500 annually was being provided to fishermen during the annual fishing ban period imposed for conservation and breeding of fish. This financial assistance has provided social security to fishermen engaged in reservoir fisheries across the State.
The Chief Minister said that the government is working with a focused approach to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant by strengthening traditional economic activities and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities. He said that the fisheries sector has immense potential for employment generation, rural prosperity and income enhancement, particularly in the state’s reservoir and high-altitude regions.
