Fish Pond Loan Scheme in Odisha

Fish Pond Loan Scheme in Odisha

Orissa state government has taken another initiative towards development of the state. Naveen Patnaik, the CM of Orissa has announced about a new scheme related to fisheries recently. Under this scheme the farmers will get loan subsidy from the state government to create new water bodies on the land. In these additional water bodies freshwater fishes will be cultivated. Fish Pond Scheme will soon start implementing in the state.

Launch Details

The scheme namely Fish Pond Scheme was launched on 27th November 2017. Chief Minister Patnaik was attending the workshop conducted by the Department of Fisheries and Animal Development (FARD). On the occasion of the workshop the CM has stated that the state has to buy freshwater fishes from different states due to high demand in the state. To reduce this, the state wants the farmers to create more water bodies like ponds and such.

Key Features

  • Objective of the scheme: The main aim of the scheme is to cultivate more freshwater fishes in the state. Through this scheme the state aims to reduce import of the same as well as meet the demand of the consumers.
  • Land for aquaculture: According to the report, 2200 hectare of land will be allocated for the scheme. Farmers will be given pieces of lands to start cultivating for freshwater fishes. Each farmer will get 2 Hectares of land.
  • Subsidised Loan: Under this scheme the state government will provide subsidy in loan amount. The beneficiary can take loan and government will bear the half of the loan amount for this scheme.
  • Advantages: Under this scheme more employment generation will take place. Also it has been said that overall income level in the agricultural sector will increase.
  • Supervision: FARD or Fisheries and Animal Development Department of the state will supervise the implementation of the scheme. The officials will be appointed for identification of the eligible farmers for this scheme.

Implementation

As mentioned there will be 2200 hectare of lands under the scheme where creation of new water bodies will take place. Each eligible farmer will get 2 Hectares of land under the scheme. Now the farmer can have two ponds in two pieces of land or can have one pond on one hectare land. The government will provide subsidy for one hectare only.

Under this scheme each farmer can take loan up to Rs. 8.5 Lac. The state government will provide subsidy of 50% of the total cost of production that is up to Rs. 4.25 Lac. The remaining 50% will have to pay by the farmers. As the subsidy will be available only for one hectare if the farmer takes more loans than 8.5 Lac then the rest amount must be paid by the farmers. Government will pay only up to Rs. 4.5 Lac.

Budget Allocation

The state government of Orissa has allocated Rs. 96 Cr for this scheme. State authority did not mention whether the scheme will be implemented on the basis of phases or not. Hence the mentioned budget is allocated for the entire scheme.

Other sectors and their development by Orissa Government

Including fish pond scheme the Chief Minister has stated that other schemes in agricultural sector will also be enhanced in future. According to him the production of eggs, milk and fish has been increased overtime. Within 16-17 years the production of all three products has been risen up moderately. Egg production has increased 2.5 times than in 2000. Milk production has reached to 54 Lac litres in 2017 from 24 Lac litres in 2000. Finally fish production has increased to 6 Lac tonnes from 2.6 Lac tonnes in last 17 years. Looking at this record, the state government has decided to spend some more money on these sectors as well for more betterment of these sectors.

Conclusion

The scheme Fish Pond Scheme is a loan facility that can be helpful for many farmers. As mentioned that it will also generate more employment and self dependency of the state in case of producing freshwater fishes. Every year nearly 40,000 metric tonnes of freshwater fish has to be imported from other states. With this scheme, the cost of importing from other states will be reduced largely.

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