SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Chandresh Haldankar, Superintendent of Aquaculture, Department of Fisheries on Thursday informed Herald that none of the applications received against the ‘open sea cage culture’ by the department is pending.
“The efficiency of open cage culture technique depends upon the survival rate of fish, seed availability, market value, culture period and the environmental factor”, he added.
He said, so far we have received only one application, that to was in the year 2017-2018 wherein the beneficiary was granted the subsidy of Rs 70 lakh (including Central and State)
Speaking about the various programmes the Department of Fisheries have conducted so far in order to create the awareness, Haldankar said, “Since the time this scheme was started (year 2016), we are doing continues awareness via print media, community interaction and awareness programmes under the initiative of Aatmanirbhar Bharat to invite the applications”. In addition to this, numerous trials, demonstrations and drives were held to create the awareness, he added.
According to him, the fishermen don’t opt to claim the subsidy since the open cage culture scheme involves a huge investment and risk level. He said the unavailability of seed in Goa increases the price per seed due to increased transportation cost. The construction of cage as well requires huge investment, he added.
“A total of Rs 144 crore and some odd was sanctioned by the Central Ministry in the year 2017-18”, he said and added that the amount of subsidy varies depending upon the community and on the women quota.
“The scheme which was started in 2016 by the State government was funded by the Central Ministry in 2017-18 under the initiative of ‘Blue Revolution’ scheme which was later adopted by the Department of Fisheries-Goa.
Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said the Central government-sponsored schemes for fishermen including that of the ‘Open sea cage culture’ has evoked a poor response in the State due to lack of awareness programmes.
