Gangtok, Apr 19 ( UNI ) In a Curtain raiser on Fish Mela, Directorate of Fisheries led by Minister Lok Nath Sharma announced on Monday that they were now all set to host the first ever Fish Mela, here.
The Fish Mela is slated to be inaugurated by Chief Minister PS Tamang.
The Fish Farmers from villages would be bringing Ornamental and Edible Fish for the Fish Mela. They will display all the species they have at the exhibition and sell also. Sikkim boasts of 48 species of Fish. The Farmers have not been encouraged towards commercially adopting Fish Farming so far , but they would now do it,motivated by the Mela,’announced LN Sharma, Minister Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and Fisheries.
He was joined by Principal Director cum Secretary , Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services ,Sangay D.Bhutia and Director Fisheries N Jaswant Kumar IFS.
‘We want to attract youth primarily to take up aquaculture as a sustainable livelihood.Department would be helping 150 prsons under a Central fisheries scheme. The fish farmers are being encouraged towards commercial fish breeding for sustainable livelihood,providing required support.Our fish consumption is 16Thousand metric tonne ,but State Fish farmers produce only 4.65 Tonnes,rest has to be purchased from other States. Under Pradhan Mantri’ Matsya Sampda Yojna 200 beneficiaries are proposed to be helped,if they avail of the scheme they are sure to earn more than as a Govt employee,’ added Minister Lok Nath,at Secretariat.
Director N Jaswant stated that they have arranged for 20 stalls to be manned by 2 fish farmers each,at MG Marg,here.(UNI)