Govt to promote Telangana brand processed fish

Efforts being made to purchase fish directly from the fishermen cooperative societies

Hyderabad: With significant increase in fish cultivation, the Fisheries department is actively pursuing plans to sell processed fish under Telangana brand. Accordingly, efforts are being made to purchase the fish directly from the fishermen cooperative societies through the Telangana State Fishermen Co-operative Societies Federation and market the processed food through new fish outlets in partnership with private participants.

Revealing the plans here on Saturday, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said the Federation was making efforts to provide high quality fish to consumers and cater to the latter’s needs. The officials are planning to establish about 200 clusters across the State with the fishermen cooperative societies from two-three mandals each clubbed together in each cluster. Fish purchased from these societies will be transported to a designated point in each cluster and then to the processing units to be established across the State. A fish processing unit will be set up for every 40-50 clusters based on the fish production and the transported fish will be processed for grading, cleaning, packing and supplying to the fish outlets as well as other markets.

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“In the first phase, we are planning to set up the fish processing units in Seriguda of Hyderabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal. Based on the response, they will be expanded to other districts as well,” the Minister said. Further, the government will partner with private players for opening new fish outlets as per the franchise model. Through these initiatives, direct employment for around 500 persons and indirect employment for another 5,000 people is expected. He stated that the per capita consumption of fish in the State is only 7.88 kg as against the recommendations of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to consume 12 kg.

Further, Srinivas Yadav explained that due to the proactive measures taken by Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, the fish production has increased considerably in the State from 1.97 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 3.49 lakh tonnes in 2020-21. While about 60 per cent of the fish produced in the State are being consumed within the State, about 21 per cent is being transported to West Benagl and the remaining 19 per cent is being supplied to other States including Assam, Tamil Nadu and Kerala among others.

The Minister directed the officials of Fisheries department to convene a meeting with the fisheries and marketing experts in order to chalk out a comprehensive action plan in this regard. He stated that the government was strengthening the marketing system in order to ensure that fishermen receive the benefits of the government initiatives including free distribution of fishlings and earn good income.

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