Union Minister urges Gujarat to tap inland fisheries potential for Blue Economy growth
Vadodara, June 30
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, on Tuesday called for a time-bound strategy to transform Gujarat into the country's leading centre for inland fisheries, saying the state's natural resources offered significant opportunities to strengthen the "Blue Economy".
Speaking at the valedictory ceremony of the fourth Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference in Vadodara, Singh said Gujarat possessed considerable untapped potential despite already having one of India's longest coastlines.
He said the state's numerous village ponds across several districts could be utilised more effectively to expand inland fisheries and increase economic activity linked to the Blue Economy.
"Gujarat possesses not only a long coastline but also tremendous potential for inland fisheries," Singh said.
The minister noted that Gujarat accounts for nearly one-third of India's total saline water resources, providing a strong foundation for shrimp production and related industries.
"Inland fisheries currently account for only two per cent of India's fisheries exports from Gujarat, indicating substantial scope for expansion," he said.
To unlock that potential, Singh recommended wider adoption of advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), along with stronger hatchery systems, greater investment in cold chain infrastructure and improved transportation networks.
He urged the Gujarat government, scientists, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to work together on a coordinated action plan to establish the state as a global inland fisheries hub.
Singh said such efforts would support both Gujarat's economic growth and the national vision of "Viksit Bharat".
The conference concluded with investment proposals worth more than Rs 3.34 lakh crore through 3,759 memoranda of understanding (MoUs), expected to generate more than 1.97 lakh potential employment opportunities.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also addressed the concluding session.
Additional Chief Secretary for Industries, Mamta Verma, presented an overview of the conference's planning, implementation, and outcomes.
Artisans and entrepreneurs from various sectors were honoured during the ceremony.
— IANS
Reader Comments
That Rs 3.34 lakh crore in MoUs is mind-boggling! But I'm worried about the environmental impact. Shrimp farming has caused problems in coastal areas of Andhra. Hope Gujarat learns from those mistakes and balances economic growth with ecological sustainability. Viksit Bharat should be green too.
Interesting development. I work in aquaculture here in the US and I've seen how technology transforms the sector. India has a real edge with its diverse water resources. The cold chain infrastructure is key - that's where many developing countries struggle. Smart move to focus on that alongside AI.
True baat hai! Gujarat's coastline is famous but inland fisheries was neglected for so long. As a Gujarati, I'm proud to see focused planning. But sir, implementation mein dikkat hoti hai na. Let's see if the MoUs actually translate to jobs and income. 1.97 lakh potential jobs - that's a big number.
Only 2% of exports from inland fisheries? That's surprising but shows the massive potential. The saline water resources for shrimp production could be a game changer. Just hope the small farmers and traditional fishermen are included in this vision, not just big corporates. Small-scale sustainability matters.
Impressive conference outcomes! I work in development policy and the Blue Economy concept is gaining traction globally. India's strategy to combine inland fisheries with technology adoption is smart. The hatchery systems and transport networks are fundamental - without them all the MoUs won't deliver results. Good to see Rajnath Singh and CM Patel involved too.
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