Nabard rolls out Rs 100 cr scheme for fish farming

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has rolled out Rs 100 crore area development scheme (ADS) on fresh water fish farming in five districts of the state- Balasore, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Cuttack and Rayagada.

"The scheme covers five districts in Odisha in inland fishing activities. It has been formulated under the consultative process involving all the stakeholders", said A Chandrasekhar, general manager, Nabard.

The scheme was launched recently by H R Khan, Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the presence of J K Singh Kharb, executive director of Allahabad Bank and P K Jena, regional director, RBI-Bhubaneswar.

While all the 12 blocks of Balasore district have been covered, one block each of Jagatsingpur, Mayurbhanj and Rayagada districts are included in the scheme. Two blocks of Cuttack district, namely Nischintkoili and Niali are considered under the ADS.

Out of the Rs 100 crore outlay for five districts, about Rs 75 crore will be in the form of bank credit and the balance will be invested by the beneficiaries.

Activities like fish farming in both new and renovated ponds, eco-hatcheries, integrated farming with horticulture and livestock, fish seed banks and aqua shops have been included in the scheme along with the farm models.

Officials said the scheme will be operational from March 2015.

Nabard has stated that out of 121,000 hectares (ha) total water area available under ponds and tanks in Odisha, only 80,000 ha have been brought under aquaculture.

The average fish productivity of the state stands at 1000 kg per acre of pond, much below than the expected productivity of 2000 kg per acre. In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, the average productivity is around 3000 kg per acre of pond.

On completion, Nabard expects an increase in productivity of ponds from the present level of 1000 kg per acre of pond to at least 2000 kg per acre.

The scheme targets an annual production of additional 3500 tonne of fresh water fishes, production of 250 tonne of prawn, 700,000 litres of milk, 15000 duck eggs, 4000 kg of duck meat and 20 tonne of poultry meat.

In addition, the scheme will result in direct self-employment opportunity for 10000 persons and indirect employment for around 45000 persons.

In a related development, Nabard has partnered Allahabad Bank for organizing financial literacy camps and opening of accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana at all the semi-urban and rural branches of the PSU bank.