HT Correspondent
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TURA, April 28: Tura MP Agatha K Sangma, inaugurated the Training Hall of Fisheries department at Digri Chiring Fish Seed Farm at Duragre under Rongram C&RD Block, near Tura, and distributed 3-wheeler vehicles to the shortlisted fish farmers of West Garo Hills under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna, 2020-2021, in the presence of the deputy commissioner, Ram Singh, the officials of Fisheries department from all the district of Garo Hills and other dignitaries on Thursday.
Speaking on the day, Agatha said that with the inauguration of the training hall, many fish farmers of the region will be immensely benefited and urged the local fish farmers to become self-reliant by taking initiatives to increase their fish production. The PMMSY, according to her, is an important initiative of the government of India and the state government under the leadership of the chief minister, is working hard to achieve the aims and objectives of the scheme.
Stressing on the need to minimise the imports of fish from other states, she urged the beneficiaries, who received the three wheeler vehicles along with the ice boxes, to strive forward to realise the aspirations of the people of the state in terms of fish production.
West Garo Hills deputy commissioner, Ram Singh, in his speech said that there is a huge mismatch in fish consumption and production in the state. According to him, fish consumption in the state is very high and at the same time, import of fish from other states like Andhra Pradesh and Orissa also is very high because of the absence of large scale fish farmers. He also urged the fish farmers to preserve the natural environment, especially, the water catchment areas and the natural water bodies, to save and preserve the aquatic life.
A one-day awareness program on Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) under the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), also was simultaneously conducted where the executive assistant from the NFDB, Dorothy MS was the resource person.
On the day, the assistant director of Fisheries, Roger BR Marak, delivered the welcome address and the superintendent of Fisheries, West Garo Hills, proposed the vote of thanks.
