Fisheries sector occupies a very important place in the Socio-economic development of the country as it contributes to economic growth, food production, and employment generation and earns substantial foreign exchange. India is the second largest fish producer in the world with a total production of 13.7 million metric tons in 2018-19 of which 65 per cent was from inland sector.
Almost 50 per cent of inland fish production is from culture fisheries, which constitutes 6.5 per cent of global fish production. The sector has been showing a steady growth in the total gross value added and accounts for 5.23 per cent share of agricultural GDP.
Even as growth in agriculture sector remains a challenge for the government, due to fluctuating growth in sectors like crop, livestock and forestry from 2014-15 to 2017-18, fisheries sector has grown rapidly from 4.9 per cent in 2012-13 to 11.9 per cent in 2017-18. Fish and fish product exports emerged as the largest group in agricultural exports and in value terms accounted for Rs 47,620 crore in 2018-19.
Meat and poultry industry is well-developed and retail chain and supply is adequate as compare to fish. However, doctors are suggesting patients to eat fish instead of mutton and chicken. Awareness among domestic people is increasing day by day for the consumption of fish and fish products.
Fish is the costliest item in the menus of hotels and eating fish outside is rally expensive. Sea catch is unpredictable so availability of fresh fish is again a big challenge. Even if we get fresh fish, to get hygiene product is again a challenge in front of this industry. Fish markets are always crowdie and unhygienic. Due to changing price every day of fish according to demand and supply, customers always are not satisfied with the price of fish. Average value of fish from sea is around or minimum Rs. 250.00/Kg and fishes like (Pomfret & Salmon) which have demand are really costly above Rs. 1000.00. Need for boneless fish or fillets of fish are increasing due to highly acceptance by children. Even we are earning good in exports of fish there is a nutritional need of fish in the Indian domestic markets. There is need of Supply of fresh and clean fish to the end costumes with affordable price and to build a trust among them for a reliability, cleanliness, expertise, value addition and taste.
Cage farming of fish can cater varieties like Tilapia fish and Pangasius Fish. Both the varieties are very famous in international markets. Tilapia is second largest treaded fish variety in the world. And India is importing and have increasing demands of Basa fish which is nothing but a pangasius fish. This project will be an effort to increase the production of these two varieties and to supply in market of all over India.