Union minister promotes fish for human nutrition

TIRUPATI: Union minister of state for fisheries L. Murugan highlighted the importance of seafood, especially fish, in human nutrition.

Inaugurating a Fish Food Festival in Nellore organised by the Matsyakara Committee on Sunday, he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for setting up an exclusive ministry for fisheries as part of his Sab ka Saath... Sab ka Vikas initiative. As a result, exports of fish have increased by 30 percent.

“Fishermen of Andhra Pradesh have made an outstanding contribution in this regard with their commitment and hard work,” the minister underlined. He maintained that the centre is undertaking many programmes for development of the fisheries sector in AP. It has established a fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam at a cost of ₹100 crore. He said the centre is working for development of fishing community in the country in the true spirit of Antyodaya.

Murugan pointed out that the centre is providing an assistance of ₹20 lakh to deep-sea fishing vessels with 60 percent subsidy. In this context, he said when all sectors had been facing hardships during the Coronavirus pandemic, centre had formulated a ₹20,000 programme for the welfare of fishermen in the country.

On the occasion, the union minister launched a book on Prime Minister's Matsya Sampada Yojana in Telugu language. Officials of AP fisheries department and representatives of fishermen welfare committee were among those who participated in the programme.