Shillong, Mar 6: The state government has sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the construction of additional 35 hatcheries to increase the fish production in the state.
Replying in the Assembly during the question hour, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday said, “Work will commence very soon and after completing the construction, the state will have a total of 96 hatcheries.”
“As of now, we are having 61 hatcheries which are producing 24.7 million fingerlings,” he added.
Sangma informed that the fish production in the state has increased to 20,000 metric tons from 4000 metric tons before the implementation of the aqua culture mission.
“However, since the total demand is 32,000 metric tons, the state still have to import 12,000 metric tons from outside the state,” he said while announcing that the government will soon launch the new aquaculture mission.
The mission will require additional 4000 hectares of land to make the state self-sufficient in fish production, he added.
Further, the CM informed that 778 metric tons of feed is being produced against the demand of 30,000 metric tons. “The government has sanctioned fund for setting up of another 12 new feed mills and upgradation of 17 (existing mills),” he said.
Earlier, Sangma informed that a total of 3230 fishery ponds have been constructed under different schemes during the period from 2020 to 2024. Rs 9768.29394 lakh have been sanctioned so far.
