Kerala - Kochi   

Plan to extend inland fishing

KOCHI: The State government is working towards developing fishing in nearly 10,000 hectares of inland water bodies with participation from the local farmers during the next three years, said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. He was speaking after the State-level inauguration of the ‘Matsya Keralam’ project at Kedamangalam S.N. College grounds near here on Saturday.

The project is being implemented to ensure the contribution of fisheries sector towards food security. The project will be completed with public participation in a time-bound manner, he said.

Even though the State has more than four lakh hectares of inland water bodies, including 44 rivers, Kuttanad backwater and Thrissur Pokkali farms, its full potential has not been utilised.

‘Matsya Keralam’ project is aimed at increasing the inland fish production from existing 70,000 tonne to 2 lakh tonnes. The project is part of the State government’s efforts to bring the marginalised fishermen community to the mainstream society.

In his address, Minister for Fisheries and Registration S. Sarma said only 20 per cent of the installed capacity of the processing plants in the State is being used at present.

The Chief Minister handed over shrimp seedlings to some of the beneficiaries. V.D. Satheesan, MLA, released the logo of the project. K. Chandran Pillai was the chief guest. MLAs M.K. Purushothaman, K. Babu, M.M. Monayee, and T.U. Kuruvilla, and District Collector M. Beena, were present.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Children get to meet their TV icon
Drive to inculcate safety awareness among people
Winter Splash ’08 celebrations in city
12 tea estates in State reopened
Wetland birds vanishing
Next issue
Changes in Act will check realty speculation
Minister’s call
Pesticide residue laboratory for city
VS proposes nine-point action plan for growth of the airport
Mediation for bringing harmony in society: Chief Justice
Efforts for hospital accreditation
Plan to extend inland fishing
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu