Basudevpur: Basudevpur block is a coastal pocket in Bhadrak district. Marine fishing is an integral part of life. But now, freshwater pisciculture has got a boost in the area due to the state government’s initiative under Mo Machha Pokhari Yojana. Many farmers have become self reliant by taking up fishery.
The government has been providing financial help to the farmers to encourage fishery in fresh water.
According to reports, in 2018-19, the fishery department lent financial assistance to 31 fish farmers under the scheme, who have been doing fishery on 148.68 acres of land by digging ponds.
The guidelines of the scheme say, a minimum of 18 gunths of land is required for pond. The government provides Rs 8.50 lakh per hectare of land for fishing with subsidy of Rs 4.25 lakh.
In the current year, over 20 farmers in the block have been registered under the scheme. Arun Kumar Mohanty of Arandua and Sanjib Kumar Mohapatra of Brahmangan have scripted success in fishery.
Mohanty and Mohapatra said freshwater fishery is a profitable business. “In the pond, one can grow fish while the edges of the pond can be used for growing vegetables and other crops,” they added.
The two have been earning Rs 1.5 lakh per hectare annually.
A young fish farmer of Bheda area has become self-reliant by taking up fishery on his 32 gunths of land.
Narayan Panda, another farmer from Barandua, has been recognized as leading fish farmer in the district. He has been honoured for fish farming and spawn production.
Block fisheries officer Gadadhar Rout said 15 farmers in 2017-18 and 31 farmers in 2018-19 have been included in Mo Machha Pokhari Yojana and provided loans.
Rout added, “With subsidies on loans, farmers are encouraged to take up fish farming while children of fish farmers are provided financial incentives to pursue higher education.”