Introduction:
PMMSY, launched as part of the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ initiative, has secured a monumental investment of Rs. 20,050 crores. The scheme prioritizes rural development through local resources by providing fishermen with insurance, financial aid, and Kisan Credit Cards. Its overarching objective is to reform, improve performance, and transform the fisheries sector.
Body:
Challenges in India’s inland fisheries sector:
- Infrastructure Deficiency: Inadequate infrastructure, including fishing harbors and storage facilities, impedes post-harvest management and transportation efficiency.
- IUU Fishing: Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing exacerbates overfishing, posing a threat to sector sustainability. Inadequate monitoring hampers effective countermeasures.
- Limited Credit Access: Small-scale fishers often lack access to credit and financial services, constraining investment in modern equipment.
- Environmental Degradation: Pollution, habitat destruction, and water quality issues negatively impact fish habitats and biodiversity.
PM Matsya Sampada Yojana Objectives:
- Augmenting Fish Production: PMMSY aims to increase fish production by 70 lakh tonnes by 2024-25.
- Elevating Export Earnings: The scheme targets a significant increase in fisheries export earnings to Rs. 1,00,000 crore by 2024-25.
- Reducing Post-Harvest Losses: PMMSY aims to cut post-harvest losses from 20-25% to around 10% through targeted interventions.
- Investment Allocation: The scheme allocates funds to beneficiary-centric activities in Marine, Inland fisheries, and Aquaculture, as well as Fisheries Infrastructure enhancement.
Contributions to enhancing productivity:
- Sustainable Practices: PMMSY ensures long-term fish availability, addressing the decline in fish populations due to excessive fishing.
- Improved Infrastructure: The scheme tackles infrastructure inadequacies, reducing fish harvest losses and benefiting fishers economically.
- Diversification & Aquaculture: PMMSY encourages alternative methods like aquaculture to alleviate pressure on fully exploited inland fish stocks.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, PMMSY employs comprehensive measures encompassing infrastructure development, modernization, financial support, and conservation to tackle challenges in India’s inland fisheries sector. The scheme revitalizes the sector, fostering increased productivity in inland water bodies with sustained growth.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
