The state's minister for fisheries, Bubul Das has sought the help and intervention of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to achieve this objective.

Das has stated that Assam is at present not self-sufficient in fish production. Against the present demand of 2.75 lakh tonne of fish and annual per capita comsumption of 11 kg, only 1.55 lakh tonne of fish per year is being produced at present in the state. In view of the prevailing situation, the state government has drawn up a strategy to double fish production to 3.03 lakh tonne by the year 2007-08. It has been estimated that the state has the potential to produce 4.04 lakh tonne of fish annually.

Das has pointed out that though the state is rich in inlandwater resources of both iotic and lentic type with a coverage of 3.48 lakh hectre, the inherent paucity of fund and shortage of adequate technical manpower are hindrances in the way of proper extension services. This has resulted in under-utilisation and non-utilisation of resources. He has, therefore, appealed to ICAR to help in establishing matysa vikas kendras in all districts of the state for ensuring active lab-to-land programmes.

Population of commercially important local fish like chital, pabo, puti, murrels, ari and koi are declining day by day in natural water bodies and the water holding capacity of major rivers has reduced due to continuous siltation over years. Therefore a national policy is needed to stop further degradation of natural habitat of fish and ICAR should formulate a special project to ensure maximum sustainable yield in the rivers of Assam.

The state is self-sufficient in carp seed production with an output of 2245.54 million fry in 1997-98. However, the production of stockingmaterial, the fingerling is inadequate. Continuous in-breeding of substandard brood fish has resulted in poor farm productivity. The state is also rich in ornamental fishes with 42 species available. ICAR should give financial support and technical assistance to breed, propogate and facilitate export of these fishes, said Das.

Comparatively, the Assam minister of state veterinary, HK Konwar said that livestock and poultry plays an important role in the economy of the state which contributes about 4 per cent of the total revenued earned. The total livestock and poultry population of Assam is in the tune of 1.20 crore and 1.40 crore respectively. In spite of having a huge number of livestock and poultry population the productivity of the same is not encouraging.

Today the per capita availability of milk is only 87 ml per day, that of eggs is 18 number per annum and that of meat is only 6 gram per day. This low productivity is due to the fact that the livestock population mostly comprises of indigenous typewith poor genetic makeup. The state government in collaboration with Assam Agriculture University is preparing a project for development of livestock which will be submitted to ICAR. Also the state government in consultation with the College of Veterinary Sciences, Khanapara is preparing a report on tackling of diseases on livestock population which also will be submitted to ICAR.

Konwar has urged ICAR to set up a National Research Centre on pig and a centre of the National Bureau of Conservation of Germplasm and a centre of research on indigenous feed and fodder resourcees in the state.