Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati holds a review meeting with the Fisheries Department and Bankers

Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati, as a follow-up of his previous meeting with the Fisheries Department on 28th March 2023, held a review meeting with the officials of the said department at Raj Bhavan today. In this meeting, the heads of Mizoram Rural Bank, State Bank of India, Mizoram, and Mizoram Cooperative Apex Bank were also invited to get abreast of the importance of bank linkage with the Fish Farmers. In his opening remarks, Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati enlightened the meeting about the fishery activities as one of the few potential areas where the state can achieve self-sufficiency. He also acknowledged that the budget allocation for the Fisheries Department for the current fiscal year is hardly any different from the previous FY. Despite this constraint, he strongly suggested the possibility of enhancing fish farming activities to enhance the income of fish farmers through a large pool of resources from Centrally sponsored schemes.

In this connection, he urged the officers and staff of the Fisheries Department to work harder, to propose more projects to the Ministry, to create better coordination with the Bankers, and also to increase awareness activities on the availability of schemes and financial assistance through bank loans. He also advised the Fisheries department to strategies their awareness campaigns, which will help the farmers overcome their reluctance to avail of bank loans to supplement the subsidies received through the central schemes. On behalf of the Fisheries Department, Pu H.Lalengmawia,  Commissioner & Secretary, briefed the meeting on the recent activities of the Fisheries Department, achievements, the number of proposals submitted to the Ministry, and planned initiatives in the pipeline. This was followed by the PowerPoint presentation of activities under the Fisheries Department, Government of Mizoram, by Director Pi Laltleipuii and her supporting officers.

As of now, the Fisheries Department can explore about 4000 plus Hectares out of the total potential areas of 24000 Hectares in the state. The national per capita consumption of fish is between 11 to 13 Kg, while Mizoram can harvest only 6.4 Kg per person in a year, locally. After the presentation, the Bankers were also invited to share their experience of bank linkage with the Fish Farmers and feedback on loan returns by the farmers. The meeting also recommended a frequent joint meeting of the Fisheries Department and the Bankers under the chairmanship of the Commissioner & Secretary of Fisheries Department for better coordination.