Speed Post News Network
Patna : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 10, 2020, launched PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, e-Gopala App, and several initiatives linked to studies and research in fisheries production, dairy, animal husbandry and agriculture in Bihar through video conferencing. Speaking on the occasion, the PM said the motive behind all these schemes launched today is to empower the villages and make India Self-Reliant (AatmaNirbhar Bharat) in the 21st Century. The Prime Minister said the Matsya Sampada Yojana is also being launched with the same motive.
He said it is being launched in 21 States of the country with an investment of Rs 20,000 Crore which would be spent in the next 4-5 Years. Out of this, projects worth Rs 1,700 crores are being launched on September 10. Under this scheme, he said, many facilities have been inaugurated in Patna, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Kishanganj and Samastipur.
The Prime Minister said the scheme provides for new infrastructure, modern equipment and access to new markets to the fish producers, along with increased opportunities for farming as well as other means. He said this is the first time after independence that such a major scheme has been launched in the country for the fisheries sector.
Modi said keeping in mind the importance of the sector and in order to exclusively deal with various issues concerning fisheries, a separate Ministry has been created in the Government of India. The goal is to double fish exports in the coming 3-4 years. This will create millions of new employment opportunities only in the fisheries sector. The PM said that much of the fish farming depends on the availability of clear water and the Mission Clean Ganga will further help. The mission Dolphin announced on August 15 this year will also have its impact on the fisheries sector.
The PM lauded the work done by the Government of Bihar in provided safe drinking water supply to every household. He said that in 4-5 years only 2% houses in Bihar were linked to Water Supply connections but now more than 70 percent households in Bihar are connected with the supply of clean drinking water. He said that even in this time of Corona, about 60 lakh houses in Bihar have been ensured water from the tap and this is a really big achievement.
He informed that the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has also directly transferred money to the bank accounts of more than 10 crore farmers of the country, especially about 75 lakh farmers in Bihar. He said this work is also praiseworthy because Bihar has also faced floods bravely along with the corona, according to a PIB release.
The PM said that many of the workers who have returned from the cities due to the Corona crisis are moving towards animal husbandry and they are getting support from many schemes of the Central Government and the Government of Bihar. He added that Mission Gokul is underway to develop better indigenous breeds in the country. A countrywide artificial insemination programme was started a year ago and Phase I was completed today.
The Prime Minister said Bihar is now becoming a major center for the development of quality indigenous breeds. Bihar is going to be strengthened in the dairy sector due to the modern facilities built in Purnia, Patna, and Barauni under the National Gokul Mission. The center built in Purnia is one of the largest centers in India.
The Prime Minister said that usually a cow gives birth to one child in a year. But with the help of IVF technology, more calves are possible in a year. Our goal is to reach every village with this technology. The e-Gopala app launched today will be an online digital medium that will help the farmers to choose better quality livestock and get freedom from middlemen, he said and added this app will give all the information related to cattle care, from productivity, to its health and diet.
The PM said that very few people know that Pusa Institute in Delhi refers to Pusa town near Samastipur in Bihar. During the time of colonial rule itself, a national level Agricultural Research Center was set up at Pusa in Samastipur. He praised visionary leaders like Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Jananayak Karpoori Thakur for carrying this tradition forward after independence.
Considering the modern needs of the agricultural sector, 3 Central Agricultural Universities are set up in the country compared to only one 5-6 years ago. In the Bihar, Mahatma Gandhi Research Center was inaugurated to save farming from the floods that come in Bihar every year. Similarly, the Regional Research and Training Center for Fish in Motipur, the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Center at Motihari, and many such institutes were started to connect agriculture with science and technology.