Fisheries Sector Is Fast Growing In Bangaru Telangana (14-10-15)

Fisheries sector is one of the fast growing sectors contributing to GSDP of the State as well as generating in-come and employment. Fisheries sector contributes 3.47 percent of GSDP from agriculture and 0.6 percent to the GSDP during 2014-15 at current prices. The sector aims at exploitation of all the possible resources under capture and culture fishery base for increasing fish production and productivity through sustainable development. The sector is contributing considerably for, food security, nutrition and health, livelihood se¬curity to rural population and welfare of fishers.
Among the total 78 reservoirs in the State, the water spread area is below 1000 hectares in 53 reservoirs be¬tween 1000 and 5000 hectares in 17 reservoirs and 8 percent of reservoirs have water spread area of more than 5000 hectares. Out of the total 35031 tanks in the State, more than 600 are found in Warangal, Medak, Karimnagar and Mahabubnagar districts. Thus, Warangal, Mahabubnagar, Karminagar and Medak districts have high potential for fisheries development through tanks and reservoirs.

During 2014-15, up to December 2014, 1.69 Lakh tonnes of fish and prawn is produced in Telangana as against target of 2.92 Lakh tonnes. For the year 2015-16, the target for Fish and Prawn production is 3.21 Lakh tonnes.

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The average productivity of tank is 300 to 400 kgs per hectare of water spread area. Similarly, in reservoirs, the productivity is 30 kgs per hectare of water spread area as compared to the actual potential of 150 kgs per hectare. Thus, more attention needs to be given to reservoir and tank fisheries of Telangana to improve their productivity.

The culture fishery of Telangana is not developed as compared to tank and reservoir fishery. A major proportion of aquaculture farms are concentrated in Khammam district. Farmers from Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda,Karminagar and Adilabad districts are engaged in prawn culture.

There are 19.04 lakh fishermen in the State. More than 65 percent of fishermen are concentrated in Wa-rangal,Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda and Karimnagar districts. The State has been implementing several centrally sponsored programmes that include strengthening the data base and network, registration of fresh water aquaculture, group accident insurance for fishermen, supply of fish seed and ice boxes under State Plan and under the Special Component Plan for SCs. Similarly, it has been implementing for ST fishermen also, that includes supply of inputs to ST fishermen, supply of boats and nets, establishment of fish/prawn pond or fish seed farm for STs, vending units with moped and luggage autos.

Fisheries Development

The Government has proposed, a comprehensive project/scheme for Fisheries Development with an outlay of Rs.3856.72 lakh, to improve the productivity, reduce post harvest losses, increase livelihood support and welfare of fishermen in capture and culture fishers. In this project infrastructure oriented schemes, ben¬eficiary oriented schemes/programmes, community assets for fishermen including SC/ST fishermen are proposed.

Fisherwomen Self Help Groups- Matsya Mitra Groups (MMGS)

Fisherwomen Self Help Groups called Matsya Mitra Groups (MMGs), were set up in the State. There are 383 Fisherwomen Coop. Societies, with a total membership of 1068. The MMGs are organized within Fisherwomen Coop. Societies. So far 868 MMGs covering 8700 fisher women are organized in Telangana State. These MMGs prepare their Micro business plan and take income generating schemes for improving their economic condition. Revolving fund is given to the group under Chief Minister package and RKVY @ Rs.25,000 per group of 10 to 15 women. The groups also approach the bank for taking loans to augment their resources. The financial assistance of Rs.138.65 lakhs is released to 550 MMGs in Telangana State so far.

Sericulture

The state has an advantage of having a number of silk weaving pockets like Pochampalli, Kothakota, Narayanpet Gadwal where the silk yarn can be consumed and there is a high potentiality and scope to intro¬duce further increase in production of not only mulberry silk but also Tassar silk.

The department is implementing various schemes under different programmes for Sericulture Development in the State of Telangana, which are aimed to improve production of international Grade Bivoltine Silk and to meet the gap between supply and demand of silk, transfer of technology to the farmers through Techni¬cal Service Centres, preparation of High Yielding Varieties of Mulberry, economic conservation of water, promoting private chawkie rearing units for supply of chawkie worms, promoting construction of a separate rearing sheds and providing marketing facilities to farmers through cocoon markets.

Catalytic Development Programme

The Govt of Telangana in co-ordination with the Central Silk Board, Bengaluru (Govt of India) is im¬plementing Catalytic Development Programme for the production of international 2A and above graded Bivoltine silk in Telangana. Under this scheme the stake holders will be provided financial assistance for components of on farm, nonfarm activities. An amount of Rs 545.63 Lakhs of Central share subsidy and state matching share of Rs.383.15 Lakhs was released for implementation of the CDP schemes during the year 2014-15.

Providing Incentive to The Farmers And The Silk Reelers for Their Produce:

Under the scheme, the stake holders are being provided production incentive of Rs 20/- per Kg for produc¬tion of CB Cocoons, Rs 50/- per Kg of BV Cocoons, Rs 35/- per Kg of Silk produced on Charka, Cottage basin, and Rs 80/- per Kg for CB silk produced on Multi end and Rs 150/-per Kg of BV Silk of above 2A grade of international grade produced on Multi-end / Automatic Reeling Machinery. During 2014-15 Pro¬duction incentive of Rs. 108.60 Lakhs was released towards reeling cocoons and Rs 35.16 Lakhs was released towards Silk incentive.

Yarn Support Price to The Silk Weavers

It is an ongoing Plan scheme. Telangana has traditional silk weaving heritage for the production of Traditional silk sarees, Dhotis, Dress material of South India are being produced by handlooms.

There is an imperative need for sustenance of traditional handloom silk weaving activity in the state by poor weavers due to steep fl uctuations in the prices of raw silk and twisted yarn. Due to increase in production cost of silk fabric on handlooms the traditional silk hand loom weavers are unable to continue the activity. To safeguard the handloom sector, an amount of Rs.600/- towards incentive for purchase of (4) kgs of silk yarn in a month per family is being provided under Silk yarn support Scheme to weavers. During 2014-15, an amount of Rs 246.252 Lakhs was released to implement the yarn support scheme.

Tassar Culture

Telangana ranks fourth in Tassar cocoon production in the country. The State is bestowed with 8200 acres of forest flora of T. tomentosa and T. arjuna for production of Tassar cocoons by the tribal’s in the districts of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Khammam and Warangal.

Tassar sericulture is one of the major livelihoods for the tribals of interior forest areas where abundant food plantation is available. Tassar culture involves all the activities pertaining to rearing of Tassar silkworm (Antheraea mylitta Drury), harvesting of Tassar cocoons, production of Tassar silk yarn from cocoons and weaving of Tassar yarn into fabric. The major producers in the sector include Silkworm rearers, yarn pro¬ducers and weavers.

Consistent growth in the primary sector as could be seen above presents a mixed bag of achievements. In fact, this sector provides the much needed push for the manufacturing sector to perform which is a part of the secondary sector, namely, industries sector.