Fish Export From Assam Can Boost Economy: Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: “Assam must become self-reliant in fish production. Fishery sector has immense potential and we must vigorously engage in it for deriving maximum benefits. Assam is blessed with abundant water resources and we have the capacity to become the biggest producer and exporter of fish in the country. But for that, we must adopt the latest scientific technologies for augmenting our production.” Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said while taking part in the programme to distribute appointment letters to 35 Fishery Development Officers under Fisheries Department at the conference hall of Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Janata Bhawan on Thursday.

Calling on the new appointees to strive hard to enable the fishermen and producers of the state a life of dignity, Sonowal directed the Fishery Department to prepare a roadmap for the development of fishery sector to fulfil the fish requirement of state without resorting to imports. Hoping that the newly appointed officers would be able to make positive change in the department by infusing fresh thoughts and knowledge, the chief minister urged them to dedicate themselves to the cause of making the state a top fish exporter in near future.

Urging the fish producers of the state to go for value addition of the fish produced in the state to cater to the international markets, the chief minister appreciated the fishery department for increasing the fish production to the tune of 20000 metric tonne in 2017-18 and he directed the department to work for increasing production even further so that fish import can be stopped. He also said that if the newly appointed officers of the department cannot help the fish farmers to increase production than their degrees in fishery sciences would be of little value.

The infinite potential of Brahmaputra and Barak rivers must be harnessed to achieve fast paced development of state and vast presence of natural water-bodies must be properly utilised for growing the fishery sector, the chief minister said. He also called upon the new appointees to stay away from corruption and work for the development of fishery sector with all sincerity.

Minister for Fishery Department Parimal Suklabaidya, Media Adviser to the Chief Minister Hrishikesh Goswami, Legal Adviser to the Chief Minister Shanatanu Bharali, Cice Chairman of ATDC Nabadeep Kalita were also present in the programme among others.

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