Union Minister to review fisheries development programmes during three-day Sikkim visit

GANGTOK,: Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh arrived in Gangtok on Sunday on a three-day visit to Sikkim to review key development programmes and assess the implementation of Central schemes in the State.

Singh was received by a delegation led by State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services and Fisheries Development minister Puran Kumar Gurung, along with secretary (Home and Protocol) Benu Gurung and senior officials of the concerned departments.

During his November 1-3 visit to Mangan and Gangtok districts, the Union Minister will review fisheries development initiatives, interact with farmers and stakeholders, and assess the implementation of various Central government schemes, inaugurate projects worth Rs. 3.75 crore under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and launch the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for organic fish farming.

He will also distribute Kisan Credit Cards to fish farmers and cheques under the Mukhya Mantri Matsya Utpadan Yojana (MMMUY).

In Mangan district, the minister will visit the live fish vending centre at Mangshila to interact with members of the Fish Farmers' Cooperative Society and understand challenges relating to fish marketing and cooperative activities.

He will also review fisheries development initiatives and PMMSY interventions at the district administrative centre in Mangan and seek feedback from farmers and other stakeholders on implementation-related issues.

The minister is also scheduled to visit educational and healthcare facilities in the district, witness a Siri cattle exhibition and interact with farmers.

In Gangtok, he will launch farmer-centric dairy cooperative initiatives at the Sikkim Milk Union Milk Processing Plant (SMUPP) at Tadong on November 3.

The visit is part of the Centre's structured mechanism for periodic visits by Union Ministers to the Northeastern region to review development programmes and obtain feedback on their implementation at the grassroots level, informs a PIB release.

Sikkim and Meghalaya have been identified for organic fisheries clusters under the Centre's cluster-based approach to developing the fisheries value chain. Under PMMSY, 34 fisheries production and processing clusters have been notified across the country.

The initiative seeks to strengthen production, processing, value addition and marketing through better aggregation, certification, traceability and market linkages.

The Northeastern region, with its abundant freshwater resources and diverse aquatic ecosystems, holds significant potential for development of sustainable and high-value fisheries and aquaculture. The Centre aims to leverage these resources to promote certified organic and premium fishery products, improve market access and enhance income opportunities for farmers.

The visit is expected to provide further impetus to the development of a modern, sustainable and market-oriented fisheries ecosystem in Sikkim and the wider Northeastern Region, the PIB said.