Status on problems faced by fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying farmers

PIB News Update: The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, with a view to avoid adverse impact on fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying farmers due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in the country has taken several measures which are as under:

1. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had issued advisory to State Governments/Union Territories to include fish and shrimp in the list of exempted commodities during lockdown and also allow movement of fish and fish products, fish seed & fish feed for fish-farmers/fishers, aquaculture farms and other commercial establishments like aquarium shop etc.
2. Guidelines issued on 10^th April, 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs also allowed operations of the fishing(marine)/aquaculture industry including feeding & maintenance, harvesting, processing, packaging, cold chain, sale and marketing, hatcheries, feed plants, commercial aquaria, movement of fish/shrimp and fish products, seed/feed and workers was allowed during the lockdown period.
3. The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched a flagship scheme namely “Pradhan Mantri Matsya SampadaYojana (PMMSY)

– to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India” with an estimated investment of Rs. 20,050 crore for a period of 5 yearsfrom financial year 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories as a part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat Package.

4. The Ministry of Home Affairs had on 26^th March, 2020 issued Guidelines wherein it was clarified that exceptions under clause 6, covers the transportation/ interstate movement of animal feed and fodder, being the essential items to ease movement of Animal feed and fodder in light of Manufacture and transportation of Animal feed and feed ingredient which are essential for livestock feeding and to include the same in the list of essential commodities.
5. All the States / UTs were requested to consider veterinary services in the list of “Essential Services” as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure continuous emergency services in the animal husbandry and veterinary sector, especially in emergent animal health situations including disease diagnosis and treatment, monitoring of any emergency livestock and poultry diseases, immediate disease reporting etc.
6. Day-to-day difficulties faced by Dairies (both Coop & Private) like opening of packaging material factories, supply of raw materials, transportation difficulties, issuance of passes etc. were addressed and resolved with the support of Ministry of Home Affairs.
7. Due to economic impact of Covid-19 outbreak in Dairy Sector, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has introduced a new component namely “interest subvention on Working capital loans for Dairy sector” with an outlay of Rs 203 Cr for 2020-21under Supporting Dairy Cooperatives and Farmers Producer Organisations engaged in dairy activities (SDCFPO) to provide 2% interest subvention on working capital loan and additional 2% in timely payment.
8. In order to complement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories to increase the production of milk, the Government has been implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines and thereby making milk production more remunerative to the farmers. This information is given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Dr. L. Murugan in written reply in Rajya Sabha today.