Transforming Indian Fisheries: All About PMMSY Schemes

PMMSY scheme aims for a transformational change within the fisheries sector, enhancing the production and productivity of fish. It increases the income of the fishery industry and promotes sustainable fisheries practices. 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojna, or PMMSY, was a scheme introduced in the union budget 2019-20 on September 10, 2020, to bring Blue Revolution to the fisheries sector in the period of 5 years (2020-2025). The policy aims to integrate the fishermen and agricultural farmers for the farmers' welfare and ensure that India achieves first place in Fish production and processing. The Government also introduced a dedicated department in the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying to implement and scrutinise the policy's activities properly. 

The government has set a credit target of ₹20 lakh crore for agriculture and allied sectors focusing on animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries. To support the growth of the fisheries value chain, the budget speech announced the establishment of digital public infrastructure and an Agricultural Accelerator Fund, which will promote innovation in the fisheries sector. 

Did You Know? The PMMSY scheme has a total outlay of ₹20,050 crores for five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25.

Facts About PMMSY

The PMMSY scheme has a total outlay of ₹ 20,050 crores for five years from 2020-21 to 2024-25. 

PM Matsya Sampada Yojana to launch a new sub-scheme with investments targeting ₹6,000 crores to improve value chain efficiency, expand the market, and enable fishermen, fish vendors, and micro- and small businesses. 

What is the PMMSY or Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana? 

PMMSY is an umbrella scheme for the development and progression of the fisheries sector with a gross outlay ranging up to ₹20050 crores. This scheme has two major components-

1. CSS or Central Sponsored Scheme

This is central assistance for UTs (100%), Northeastern states (90%), and other states (60%)

• Beneficiary-oriented scheme
• Non-beneficiary oriented scheme

This scheme covers three sub-components

1. Fisheries Management and Framework
2. Scaling up of production and worker productivity
3. Infrastructure and after-harvest supervision.

2. CS or Central Sector Scheme 

• A beneficiary-oriented scheme where the central assistance for SC/ST/Women is 60% and for General Category is 40%.
• Non-beneficiary oriented scheme.  

These components cover the following categories:

1. Production of fish
2. Productivity of fisheries
3. Value chain modernisation
4. Framework for fisheries management
5. Quality maintenance of aquaculture and fisheries
6. Post-production management and infrastructure
7. The welfare of fish farmers and fisheries

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Objectives of PMMSY 

PMMSY intends to work on the fisheries sector's development solely. The objectives of this scheme are

1. Identify and utilise the potential of the fishery sector in an inclusive, sustainable, responsible, and equitable way.
2. Modernise the value chain by managing post-harvest infrastructure and ensuring better quality products.
3. Amplify fish production and fishery productivity by efficiently managing water and land resources.
4. Scaling up employment opportunities in the fisheries sector.
5. Double the incomes of fish farmers and fishers.
6. Increase the value of the fishery sector by contributing to the agricultural GVA or Gross Value Added and exports.
7. Ensure better economic, social, and physical security for fishermen and fish farmers.
8. Develop an advanced regulatory framework for fishery management. 

Financial Assistance by the Government 

In the Union budget of 2019-2020, the following financial assistance was announced to be extended to the fisheries sector

• For the financial year 2019-20, an allocation of ₹804.75 crores for the promotion of the processing of the fisheries sector under the newly introduced Ministry of Fisheries, Dairying, and Animal Husbandry.
• Allocation of ₹7,552 crores for 20 tonnes of fish production in the FIDF or the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund to create overseas and inland fishery infrastructure in India. 
• Enhancing the inland fishery with the help of ₹20,000 crore outlay during the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this fund, ₹11,000 crore was to be extended to promote marine and inland fisheries and aqua care and ₹ 9000 crores for building fishery infrastructures, including cold storage chains and harbours.

Union Budget 2023 

Union Budget 2023 announced a sub-scheme “ PMMSY”  called the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). It is a central sector sub-scheme that aims to provide financial assistance to fishermen to install modern fishing equipment and develop fisheries infrastructure.   

These measures are expected to strengthen the fisheries sector, create employment opportunities, and promote sustainable development in the country.

Key Facts About the Scheme 

Here are some of the critical aspects of PMMSY:

1. Private Sector Participation

Promoting incubators, start-ups, etc., in the fishery sectors along with the business model development and promoting innovative idea generation and ease of conducting business. 
2. Post-harvest Management

Emphasising the quality of production and post-management of the fishery sector.

3. Location-based Approaches

Identifying the potential clusters to be supported with

• Infrastructure
• Requisite interventions
• Quality seed, brood and feed
• Backwards and forward linkages
• Marketing networks

4. Linking Existing Schemes

Enhancing the outcome of the scheme by clubbing with the following schemes

• PM Kisan Sampada Yojana by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries
• Sagarmala Project by the Ministry of Shipping
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by the Ministry of Rural Development
• National Rural Livelihood Mission by the Ministry of Rural Development
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana by the Ministry of Agriculture.

5. Emerging Technologies

Allocating emerging technologies like Biofloc, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems, and Aquaponics  Cage Cultivation to use water and land resources effectively.
6. Set Up Institutional Mechanisms

Institutional Mechanisms at the district and subdistrict levels will be created, including

• District program units
• State Programme units,
• Sub-district Programming units

7. Enhance Exports

Increase exports by species diversification, traceability, value addition, and brand promotion in association with the MPEDA, or Marine Products Exports Development Authority, to export an amount of ₹1 lakh crores by 2025.
8. Aquaculture Promotion

Promotion of aquaculture in alkaline and saline areas of North India. 
9. Fishery Sector Development

Development of the fishery sector in Ladakh, J&K, Islands, and Northeast by undertaking strategic development plans in each area.

10. Aquatic Health Management

Management of Aquatic Health by addressing diseases, residue issues, and antibiotics. 

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Targets of PMMSY 

Introducing a National fishery platform and e-trading and e-marketing quality fish at affordable prices has been incredible in this scheme. 

1. Fishery Production and Fish Productivity

• To increase fish production by 13.75 million metric tons to 22 million by 2025.
• Domestic fish consumption augmentation from 5 kg/capita to 12 kg/capita.
• Aquaculture productivity enhancement from the national average of 3 tons/hectare to 5 tons/hectare.

2. Economic Value Increase

• Increase the economic contribution of the fishery sector to the Agriculture Gross Value Added and export from 7.28% to 9% by 2025.
• Ensuring entrepreneurial growth and private investment in the fishery sector.
• Double the export income from ₹46,589 crores to ₹1,00,000 crores by 2025.
• Post-harvest loss reduction from 20-25% to 10%.

3. Employment Generation

• Generating 55 lacs employment opportunities, both direct and indirect.
• Doubling the earnings of fish farmers and fishers. 

Also Read: What are syndicated loans? Definition, examples, types, procedure

Key Strategies Under PMMSY

PMMSY has introduced several new initiatives to promote the fishery sector.

1. Emphasise genetically advancing commercially beneficial fish species and introduce Nucleus Breeding Center to rely on Shrimp Broodstock.
2. Utilisation of Global standards Certification, blockchain Technology, Accreditation of Hatcheries, Brood banks, farms, etc.
3. Start-up promotion in Aquaculture and fisheries with a focus on sea ranching, incubation centres, entrepreneurship models, and encouraging innovations.
4. Collectivisation of fisheries and fish farmers by establishing Fish Producer Organisations.
5. Creation of modern fishing villages and coastal fisher communities.
6. Establishment of Aqua parks to host modern aquariums.
7. Insurance coverage, especially for the expensive fishing vessels
8. Creating 3347 Sagar Mitras and Fisheries Extension Service Centres to support and engage youth in fisheries. 

Conclusion

Pradhan Mantri Matshya Sampada Yojana is a smart scheme for the holistic development and management of the Fisheries Sector. With its implementation, there has already been a steady growth in fish production- a rapid increase from 10.26 million metric tons in 2014-15 to 13.75 million metric tons in 2018-19. The scheme also helped increase productivity to 3.3 tons per hectare, and exports increased to 46,589 in 2018-19. Hopefully, the new measures will also yield fascinating results in 2024-25.

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