KOHIMA — A total of 20 motorcycles with ice boxes with the objective of a sustainable fish business were distributed to unemployed youths on Wednesday in Kohima.
The advisor of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, A Pangjung Jamir, flagged off the distribution programme at the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Kohima.
The motorcycles with ice boxes were distributed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for the year 2022-23.
Jamir, on the occasion, said that the department came up with the idea that fish is an extremely perishable food commodity unless frozen and stored in deep freezers or cold storage. The idea is to provide motorcycles to the unemployed youths of the state to encourage sustainable fish business.
It aims at generating self-employment for fish farmers and entrepreneurs by assisting them in marketing products from fish farms and providing better fish transport facilities. In this way, he said, it can prevent severe spoilage of fish and provide good quality fish fit for human consumption.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]He shared that the goal is to supply fish to areas where four-wheelers are not an option, particularly in Nagaland, which is mostly covered by hilly terrain. In addition, the fish ponds are constructed and maintained in the low land areas where there aren't good roads. Hence, two-wheelers are the best option for collection and distribution, Jamir added.
Revealing that hundreds had applied for the motorcycles but only a few were selected, he requested the beneficiaries to utilise them with dedication and follow the proper directives given by the department.
He also informed that the national fish production for the year 2022-23 is 174 lakh metric tons, which is an 81% increase compared to 2013-14 production, making India the third largest fish-producing country in the global market. He noted that the revenue from the export of seafood has reached INR 57,586.48 crore.
Highlighting the scheme, Lotimenba, additional director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, stated that the department had already distributed two motorcycles on a trial basis from the fund availed during 2020-21 and seeing the success, it proposed 20 motorcycles more for the year 2022-23, which were distributed on Wednesday.
According to him, the funding pattern is 60:40, with the centre and state contributing 60% of the cost and the beneficiary contributing 40%.
He also encouraged the beneficiaries to use the motorcycles solely for the purpose of selling fish, as stated in the MoU, and to strive to provide the best services to the general public.