Srinagar, Aug 11: The Centre has extended support to 21,005 small and micro fisheries enterprises in Jammu and Kashmir under a ₹6,000-crore scheme aimed at formalising the unorganised fisheries sector, the government told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
In a written reply, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), a Central sector sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is being rolled out over four years from 2023-24 to 2026-27.
The development comes as the government looks to expand the fisheries sector’s contribution to the national economy, with the scheme seeking to improve institutional credit access, strengthen cooperatives, promote aquaculture insurance, and enhance value-chain efficiency.
As of August 6, the Ministry as per Kashmir Convener said, around 35.92 lakh fishers, fish farmers and other stakeholders have registered on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) launched under PM-MKSSY. Nationally, 20,09,341 small and micro fisheries enterprises have been supported under the scheme.
Jammu and Kashmir’s 21,005 supported enterprises account for about 1.05 per cent of the national total, according to the data tabled in the House.
The government further informed Parliament that 3,829 primary fisheries cooperatives have been approved for strengthening at a total cost of ₹72.75 crore. Aquaculture insurance has covered 2,294 hectares, while 127 beneficiaries covering 321.74 hectares have availed a one-time incentive worth ₹40.03 lakh.
Under the credit module, banks have sanctioned 535 loans amounting to ₹28.04 crore, with 180 beneficiaries availing the Success Fee benefit. The performance grant component has seen 84 applications approved with an eligible grant of ₹20.55 crore, of which ₹4.33 crore has been released to 21 beneficiaries.
The Ministry said aquaculture insurance beneficiaries receive a one-time incentive covering 40 per cent of the premium, subject to a ceiling of ₹25,000 per hectare or ₹1 lakh per farmer for up to four hectares. SC/ST and women beneficiaries are eligible for an additional 10 per cent incentive.
For value-chain improvements and establishing safe fish-product supply chains, microenterprises can receive performance grants of up to 25 per cent of total investment or ₹35 lakh, whichever is lower. SC, ST and women-owned microenterprises are eligible for up to 35 per cent or ₹45 lakh, whichever is lower.
The scheme also provides performance grants to village-level organisations, federations of self-help groups, Fish Farmer Producer Organisations and cooperatives, subject to prescribed ceilings, the Ministry added.
Comments are closed.