Itanagar, Feb 21: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs & Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, George Kurian, emphasised Arunachal Pradesh’s potential to become a surplus fish-producing state during his first official visit to the region.
During his visit to the state, Kurian held extensive discussions with state Agriculture Minister Gabriel D Wangsu regarding key departmental issues. He also toured private fish farms owned by Dado John in Nonpu village and Tana Hari in Emchi, Doimukh, where he interacted with local beneficiaries.
Secretary (Fisheries) Hage Tari provided a detailed briefing on the state's diverse aquaculture resources and ongoing initiatives in the fisheries sector.
Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s distinct agro-climatic zones and abundant resources, Kurian stated that the state has the capability not only to meet its internal fish demand but also to export table fish.
He urged the fisheries department to collaborate closely with farmers to maximize benefits from Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) and State Plan Schemes.
Recognising the largely unorganized nature of the fisheries sector, Kurian introduced the National Fisheries Digital Portal (NFDP), recently launched by the Union Fisheries Department.
This portal facilitates the registration of fish farmers and other stakeholders, enabling them to formalize their operations and gain access to various government schemes. He urged farmers to register on the NFDP in large numbers to avail themselves of these benefits.
Accompanying the minister during his visit to the fish farms were state Fishery Director J Taba, officers from DFDO Yupia, and officials from the Directorate of Animal Husbandry, Veterinary & Dairy Development.