The fisheries sector in the country should be brought under the ambit of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) Act so as to help it expand its market and ensure evolving of an efficient system of trade, a recent study by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) said.
While recommending a slew of measures for improving the market system of fisheries in the country, the study suggests fixing of ‘minimum support price’ for some high-value fishes which will directly benefit an estimated 1 million fishermen.
The study also recommends setting up of domestic market intelligence cells under the respective state fisheries departments to ensure that fishermen get value for their products.
The study, Exploring Market Opportunities for Fisheries in India, which was carried out by the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research on behalf of the NFDE, said there is imperfection in the Indian fish marketing system owing to variable prices in different markets.
?Due to erratic supply in the marine sector, middlemen exploit fishermen as they do not have capacity to hold the produce as per market demand,? the study said, suggesting construction of two-tonne daily capacity fish markets in major fish consuming cities like Cochin, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and Delhi.
It also suggested increasing the subsidy from the NFDB for setting up modern retail outlets. Cooperatives of fishermen should also be set up to ensure higher remuneration.
Acknowledging the contribution of the fisheries sector Indian agriculture, the study said the share of fisheries in agriculture GDP has increased robustly from 2.17% in 1980-81 to 5.93% in 2004-05. ?It is the fisheries sector which is pushing agriculture growth for the past five-and-a-half decades,? the study said.
Sharad Pawar, after taking over as the Union agriculture minister in May, also laid stress on the potential of expanding inland fisheries which would boost incomes of fishermen and farmers.
Indian’s fish (both inland and marine) production increased from 5.6 million tonne in 2000-2001 to 6.5 million tonne during 2006-2007. This fiscal, it is estimated to cross 7 million tonne.
An analysis of the fisheries sector across many states during 1990-81 to 2005-06 shows that production grew significantly during this period. In states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the growth of inland fisheries was found to be higher than that of marine fisheries.