To appreciate the significance of the blue economy geared by the ‘blue revolution’, more reforms are needed to unlock fishing and aquaculture potential. Explain. (200 Words)
Refer - Financial Express
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 4 years
KEY POINTS
· Interim Budget FY20 had created a separate ministry for animal husbandry, livestock, and fisheries, and Union Budget FY20 allocated Rs 770.25 crore for fisheries for a comprehensive development. This budgetary support has recognised the significance of ‘blue economy’.
· Centrally sponsored schemes including the Integrated Development and Management of Fisheries and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund are made available to devise a framework of development, management, and conservation of marine (and inland) fisheries.
· India ranks third in fisheries production, and second in aquaculture. Fisheries alone has employed 145 million people and contributed to 1.07% of the GDP and generated export earnings of Rs 334.41 billion as per a recent estimate of National Fisheries Development Board.
· Freshwater aquaculture that contributes about 55% of the total fish production is predominantly driven by smallholder farmers and institutionalised culture fisheries in part.
· Small-scale fisheries meet a raging concern for poverty reduction and food security in developing countries as it contains a rich animal protein and Omega 3 fatty acids, providing a nutritional diet.
· Freshwater aquaculture engenders sustainability through manure loading, nutrient cycling into the agri-food-ecosystem. From the governance and organisational view point, the fisheries sector has a long way to go to unleash the potential of blue economy.
· South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies, working in the marine fisheries sector, can help bring the necessary reforms to marine fisheries since it follows an AMUL-like cooperative model with a three-tier federal structure that have catalysed livelihood promotion of small-scale fishermen.
· Third, skilling is important to subsistence of marginalised fishermen. Union Budget 2020 has aimed for skilling fishermen through fisheries extension akin to ‘MatsyaVigyanKendras’ in collaboration with the Central Fisheries Research Institute.
Tapasvi 4 years
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IAS Parliament 4 years
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