New Delhi: The cluster approach in the fisheries sector is an innovative strategy aimed at enhancing competitiveness and efficiency. These clusters consist of geographically contiguous areas with interconnected activities covering production, processing, value addition, marketing, and exports. The approach brings together micro, small, medium, and large enterprises, creating a financially viable ecosystem through backward and forward linkages, while encouraging collaboration for shared knowledge and resources.
The approach emphasizes addressing gaps in the fisheries value chain and fostering an ecosystem that promotes business avenues and livelihood opportunities. It focuses on collective efforts, partnerships, and resource convergence to reduce costs and encourage innovation and sustainable practices.
Private investment in asset creation, management, and research is encouraged, guiding the sector toward adopting Good Aquaculture Practices. Capacity building through need-based training and skill development is also a priority. The clusters approach also engage the other stakeholders such as Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), fish farmers, processors, vendors, and contributing to an integrated value chain.
This initiative aims to foster economic prosperity, promote social advancement, enhance environmental sustainability, and support effective governance, aligning with India’s ambitious vision of Viksit Bharat.
Key areas presently identified for cluster development include Pearl, Seaweed, Ornamental Fisheries, Reservoir Fisheries, Fishing Harbour, Saline Water aquaculture, Cold Water Fisheries, Sea Cage culture, Freshwater Aquaculture, Brackish-water Fisheries, Deep Sea & Oceanic Fisheries, Organic Fisheries, Wetland Fisheries, and other areas tailored to sectoral and location-specific needs.
Potential cluster locations are identified with State Governments and Union Territories based on certain parameters like Fish culture, production trends, export earnings, number of fishing boats, engagement in fisheries activities, and existing fisheries infrastructure facilities. The Department of Fisheries has already identified locations for three priority areas for development as such as Hazaribagh District in Jharkhand for pearl culture, Madurai District in Tamil for ornamental fisheries, and UT of Lakshadweep for seaweed.
On 11th September 2024 during 4th Anniversary Celebrated at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan New Delhi, Hon’ble Union Minister Shri Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Production and Processing Clusters under the Fisheries Cluster Development Program to establish three specialized fisheries production and processing clusters dedicated to Pearl cultivation, Ornamental fisheries and Seaweed cultivation. These clusters aim to promote collectivisation, collaboration and innovation within these niche sectors, enhancing both production and market reach.
Infrastructure development in these clusters is critical and such gap filling infrastructures and fisheries development activities will supported under ongoing fisheries development schemes such as (i) financial assistance under PMMSY, (ii) financial assistance under Entrepreneur Model, (iii) interest subvention under FIDF and (iv) incentives and performance grants under PM-MKSSY. In addition, cluster based developmental strategy also envisages suitable convergence and linkage with the schemes and programmes implemented by other Central Ministries and Departments for creation of need based fisheriers and other social infrastructure at the identified clusters locastions. This approach fosters collaboration and resource sharing, reduces costs, and promotes innovative technologies.
The cluster approach is expected to generate economies of scale, increase incomes, and accelerate organized growth in fisheries across the country. By integrating diverse stakeholders and optimizing resources, this strategy fosters a resilient, competitive, and sustainable fisheries sector.
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