CHAPTER - VII
Fisheries

7.1.0 Assam is bestowed with enormous Water resources covering as much as 3.65 lakh hectares of water spread areas. This constitutes about one twelfth of the Country’s Inland Water resources. The category wise Water resources available in Assam are shown in Table – 7.1.

TABLE – 7.1
WATER RESOURCES IN ASSAM

The potential for development of pisciculture in the State can be gauged from the fact that there are over 25,837 hectares of Ponds and Tanks and 26,421 hectares of Swamps or Low Lying Areas, which can easily be developed for Scientific. Fish Culture with less investment. Pisciculture, now-a-days has become an important remunerative source of income with comparatively less investment with proper development. Fishery sector can play an important role in augmenting the State’s economic development. Although over the years various steps have been taken for development of this sector the situation however has not improved to the desired extent. As a result, the State continues to be deficit in fish production against the requirement.

FISH PRODUCTION

7.1.1 Assam being a predominantly fish consuming State, the demand for fish is very high in the State. The present requirement of fish in the State is estimated at about 2.73 lakh tonnes per year whereas production level is estimated to be 1.65 lakh tonnes only. Thus, there exist a gap between demand and production of fish. As per data available from the State Fishery Department, the fish production has increased from 161450 tonnes in 2001-2002 to 165521 tonnes in 2002-2003 thereby registering an increase of 2.52 per cent.

FISH SEED PRODUCTION

7.1.2 According to information made available by the Directorate of Fisheries, Assam the State has attained self-sufficiency in respect of Carp seed production in the stage of fry. Adequate availability of genetically improved actual stocking material i.e. ‘FINGERLING’ of size range 125 to 150 mm is however yet to be achieved uniformly throughout the State in appropriate proportion during proper season for stocking. The Fish seed and Fish production in Assam are shown in table 7.2.

TABLE – 7.2
PRODUCTION OF FISH SEED AND FISH IN ASSAM

SCHEMES FOR DEVELOPMENT

7.1.3 The Department of Fisheries, Assam, has been implementing a number of development programmes to increase fish production in the State. The important programmes are summarized below.

1. AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT UNDER FISH FARMER DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

It is a centrally sponsored scheme with 75 per cent of funding for development component being shared by the Government of India. The scheme aims at development of Pond and Tank Fisheries through involvement of Fish Farmers by providing them with short duration training on modern fish culture practices and with financial assistance in the form of Grants-in-aid and Bank loan. All the 23 Districts in the State have been covered under this programme. The Government has proposed an amount of Rs 201.00 lakh for the year 2003-2004 as State share and the physical achievement of the scheme for the year 2002-2003 is as follows.

(a) Farmers benefited through training – 549 nos.

(b) Water area developed – 148.94 hectare.

2. RECLAMATION OF DERILICT WATER BODIES

This scheme aims at developing reclaimable low-lying derelict water bodies into Cultivable fishery in the State. Under this scheme, it is proposed to engage poor people belonging to Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and General Category through subsequent management by Local Committee. Inputs and Extension Services are provided by the Department along with provision of training on Fish Culture Practices to the concerned people. An amount of Rs 100 lakh was proposed for the year, 2002-2003.

3. PROGRAMME UNDER WORLD BANK AIDED ‘ASSAM RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES PROJECT’:

For augmentation of fish production and improving Socio-Economic condition of the people belong poverty line, the Department of Fisheries, Assam, secured World Bank assistance under the project titled "ASSAM RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SERVICES PROJECT (ARIASP)" with a fund provision of Rs 2837.40 lakh for a period of 8 years from 1995-96. Development of Pond and Tank Fisheries, Beel and Open Water Fisheries, infrastructure development, training of farmers and officers, demonstration projects along with fish health care are the main programme under ‘ARIASP’. An amount of Rs 113.00 lakh is proposed for the year, 2003-2004.

7.1.4 Besides the Department of Fisheries has proposed to implement the following new schemes during 2003-2004.

(i) DEVELOPMENT OF WATER LOGGED AREAS AND DERELICT WATER BODIES INTO ACQUACULTURE ESTATE

Enormous fisheries resources in the form of Beel Fisheries, Derelict Water Bodies, Swamp Area etc. are available in Assam. The development programmes so far taken for Beel fisheries and Derelict Water Bodies under various schemes covered only 7 to 8 per cent of the existing resources of about 1.26 lakh hectares. It is, therefore, proposed by the Department to take up development of small Beels and Derelict Water bodies in the range of 2 to 10 hectare water area into aquaculture estates covering a water spread area of 1000 hectares during the Tenth Five Year Plan. An amount of Rs 100.00 lakh is proposed for he year 2003-3004 at 100 per cent Central share.

(ii) PROGRAMME FOR AUGUMENTING PRODUCTIVITY OF RESERVOIR

The State of Assam is having only 1713 hectares of Water spread area under Reservoir. The Beel Fisheries area in the State covers 1.00 (one) lakh hectare; out of this the large Beels in the range of 200 hectares and above numbering 16 cover an area of about 4600 hectares approximately. The potential of these large Beel fisheries could not be harnessed so far, as no development effort could be taken up due to financial constraints. Under the programme for augmenting productivity of reservoir a sum of Rs 5.00 lakh has been earmarked for the year, 2003-2004 as 100 per cent Central Share. Implementation of this programme is expected to help in increasing fish production besides generating self-employment opportunities to some extent.

(iii) SAVING CUM RELIEF SCHEME (SCRC)

The objective of SCR scheme is to provide financial assistance to the fishermen during the lean fishing period. The rate of contribution by the fisher folk is Rs 75.00 per month for a period of 8 months. This contribution is matched by a contribution share equally by Central and State Government. The accumulated amount will be distributed among the fishermen in three equal instalment at the rate of Rs 300.00 per month.

A sum of Rs 3.80 lakh is proposed as 50 per cent State share with equal amount of as Central share during the year, 2003-2004.

The physical targets under different schemes/items proposed for the annual plan 2003-2004 are shown in table 7.3.

TABLE – 7.3
PHYSICAL TARGET UNDER DIFFERENT FISHERY SCHEMES FOR THE ANNUAL PLAN, 2003-2004

Source: Directorate of Fisheries, Assam.

7.1.5 The District-wise detail of Seed producer/Grower of Assam is given in table – 7.4.