Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) has the potential to benefit over 4 million marine and inland fishers especially women, SHGs, weaker sections.
The Union Government in its Budget 2018 has set aside Rs 7,550 crore for setting up of a dedicated Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The fund has the potential to benefit over 4 million marine and inland fishers especially women, SHGs, weaker sections, due to availability of modern infrastructure and added value of produce. FIDF will provide concessional finance to the State Governments/Union Territories, State entities, cooperatives, individual entrepreneurs, etc. for development of fisheries infrastructure facilities both in marine and inland fisheries sector.
The infrastructure facilities to be funded under the FIDF will broadly cover development of fishing harbours/ fish landing centres, fish seed farms, fish feed mills/plants, cage culture in reservoirs, mariculture activities, introduction of deep sea fishing vessels, setting up of disease diagnostic and aquatic quarantine facilities, creation of cold chain infrastructure facilities such as ice plants, cold storage, fish transport facilities, fish processing units, fish markets etc.
The fund would (i) fill the large infrastructure gaps in fisheries sector, (ii) create employment opportunity to the rural population in fishing and allied activities, (iii) contributes towards enhancement of fish production and productivity, (iv) offers manifold benefits and (v) fulfill the requirements of tapping the full fisheries potential and achieving the vision given by the Hon’ble Prime Minister for doubling farmers’ income.
