Hyderabad, May 14 (RAHNUMA): The National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, will organise a National Workshop on Fisheries Cooperatives in Hyderabad on May 15, bringing together the policymakers, financial institutions, cooperative leaders and fisheries experts from across the country.
The workshop aims to strengthen fisheries cooperatives and promote inclusive growth in the fisheries sector, which supports nearly 30 million livelihoods and has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing sectors with an annual growth rate of around 9 percent.
Senior officials, including Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation, NFDB Chief Executive Dr. Bijay Kumar Behera and Telangana Agriculture & Cooperation Secretary K. Surendra Mohan, will address the gathering.
A major focus of the workshop will be the proposed action plan to establish 6,000 new fisheries cooperative societies and strengthen 5,500 existing societies between 2024-25 and 2028-29 under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) schemes.
The deliberations will cover formation of new cooperatives, strengthening existing societies, credit linkages, diversification in marine fisheries, digital marketing platforms, and opportunities in inland, Himalayan and North Eastern regions.
Representatives from all States and Union Territories, along with organisations such as NABARD, NCDC, NAFED, SFAC, NDDB, ICAR-CMFRI and ICAR-CIFT, are expected to participate.
The workshop is aligned with the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi” and is aimed at expanding the cooperative movement while accelerating India’s Blue Economy growth.
