Due to the proactive initiatives of the Fisheries Department in the Kashmir Valley, the annual fish production has reached an unprecedented level, steadily increasing with each passing day.
The department reported that the valley witnesses an annual fish production of 20.08 lakh tonnes, while the local consumption stands at 25 lakh tonnes per year. Despite this substantial production, the valley still imports 4 lakh tonnes of fish from outside the state. In a bid to double the production, the LG administration is spearheading new initiatives, including awareness programs designed to attract people, particularly the youth, towards fisheries.
A recent one-day seminar and awareness program held at Zanipora Fish Farm in the Shopian district of South Kashmir aimed to educate unemployed youth and private fish farm holders. The event, attended by Assistant Director of Fisheries Zahoor Ahmed Mir, featured discussions on various schemes offered by the department and modern scientific research related to fish farming.
Mir, the chief guest, urged unemployed youth to embrace self-employment opportunities provided by government schemes, emphasizing that venturing into fish farming could not only lead to personal employment but also create opportunities for others. He encouraged educated youth to explore government-sponsored schemes for better employment prospects instead of solely pursuing government jobs.
The awareness camp highlighted schemes such as carp fish farming initiated in 2004-2005 under the PM package, trout farming in the private sector since 2009 under RKVY, and the National Mission for Protein Supplement (MMPS) in 2011-2012 to promote the fish business in the private sector.
Experts at the camp stressed the importance of implementing these schemes at the grassroots level, ensuring that people are informed and can avail themselves of the opportunities at the right time. The camp also provided insights into modern fish farming methods.
Youth engaged in fish farming expressed gratitude for the support received from the Fisheries Department and reported profitable returns from their ventures. They called on other unemployed youth to explore self-employment opportunities and benefit from the available schemes. The overall success of these initiatives signifies a positive trend towards sustainable fish farming and economic empowerment in the region.
