Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Bihar

■ Bihar's climatic and topographical conditions make it favourable for the growth of allied sectors in the state. 

The growing importance of allied sectors such as fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy farming in Bihar is largely due to its role in supporting livelihoods. As labour-intensive sectors, they employ a large segment of the population and help the poor rural households in earning supplementary income.

Livestock and fisheries are the fastest-growing sub-sectors within the primary sector, growing at a rate of 10% and 7%. respectively. Also, their share in the agriculture GSVA has been averaging around 30% and 8%, respectively during the last five years (2016-17 to 2020-21).

■ Fisheries

Bihar has around 3.8% of its geographical area endowed with water resources, which offers adequate water bodies such as rivers, ponds, lakes, reservoirs and floodplain wetlands for the development of fisheries and aquatic biodiversity.

Fish production in the state steadily increased from 5.09 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 6.83 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, registering a growth rate of 7.0% in the last five years.

The leading districts in terms of production of fish are Madhubani (0.77 lakh tonnes), Darbhanga (0.64 lakh tonnes), and East Champaran (0.63 lakh tonnes), together contributing to 29.9% of the total fish production in the state during 2020-21. Farmers are receiving input subsidies for the procurement of fish feed in order to boost fish output in the state.

Government Initiatives:

■ Chief Minister Integrated Chaur Development Scheme (Proposed scheme for 2021-22 and 2022-23): 

Objective: To develop all available 'chaur' areas in the state into fisheries-based integrated aquaculture system. 

Features: 

The 'chaur' lands will be developed through the construction of ponds for fish production, along with the integration of agriculture, horticulture, and agro-forestry. 

Benefits:

With the inclusion of modern technology, the fish farmers will be provided with new opportunities which can generate more employment opportunities and increase income.

■ Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)

Aim:  To enhance fish production to 220 lakh metric tons by 2024-25 from 137.58 lakh metric tons in 2018-19 at an average annual growth rate of about 9%. 

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is a scheme to bring Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India. 

PMMSY is an umbrella scheme with two separate components: 

• (a) Central Sector Scheme (CS) and 
• (b) Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS). 

The CSS component is further segregated into Non-beneficiary oriented and beneficiary oriented. 

Launched date: 20 May 2020

Implementation duration: For 5 yrs: FY (2020-21 to 2024-25)

Total Investment: ₹ 20,050 crores.

Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying

Aims & objectives: 

• Harnessing of fisheries potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner. 

• Enhancing fish production and productivity through expansion, intensification, diversification and productive utilization of land and water.

• Modernizing and strengthening of value chain - post-harvest management and quality improvement. 

• Doubling fishers and fish farmers incomes and generation of employment. 

• Enhancing contribution to Agriculture GVA and exports.

• Social, physical and economic security for fishers and fish farmers. 

• Robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.

Salient features:

• Creation and up-gradation of fisheries infrastructure facilities like Fishing Harbours and Landing Centers, Post-harvest and Cold Chain Infrastructure, Fish Markets and Marketing Infrastructure, Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Villages and Development of Deep-sea Fishing.

• Attract private sector investment in the Fisheries sector.

• Reduce post-harvest losses by modernizing and strengthening the value chain.

• The government will register “Sagar Mitra” and encourage the formation of Fish Farmers Producer Organizations (FFPOs).

• A large number of Fisheries Extension Services Centers will be set up in private space to create job opportunities for young professionals.

• Boost new and emerging technologies like Re-circulatory Aquaculture Systems, Biofloc, Aquaponics, Cage Cultivation etc. to enhance production and productivity, productive utilization of wastelands and water for Aquaculture.

• Promote activities like Mariculture, Seaweed cultivation and Ornamental Fisheries.

• Establish a national network of Brood Banks for all commercially important species.

Intended Beneficiaries: 

Fishers, Fish farmers,  Fish workers, Fish vendors, SCs/STs/Women/Differently abled persons, Fisheries cooperatives/Federations, Fish Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), Fisheries Development corporations, Self Help Groups (SHGs)/Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) and  Individual Entrepreneurs.

PMMSY for Bihar:

Launched date: 10 September 2020

For PMMSY, a total sum of ₹ 40.76 crore has been approved for 2021-22. The Central share for this scheme is ₹ 24.46 crore, and the State share is ₹ 16.30 crore.

■ River Ranching Programme : 

Objective: The main objectives of the scheme are as follows:

• (i) Collection of fish breeder from identified rivers and artificial breeding of collected breeders through modern technology.
• (ii) Development of artificially breeded spawn into fry and fry into fingerling.
• (iii) Stocking of fish fingerlings into identified rivers through river ranching programme.
• (iv) Restoration of pure germplasm in the identified rivers of the state.

■ Fish Crop Insurance Scheme:

Objective: To provide financial support to farmers in the event of a failure of fishing, as a result of natural calamities diseases, environmental imbalance, poisoning, pollution etc.

Feature: This scheme will provide insurance protection to the farmers, and involve financial institutions for funding in the fisheries sector.

■ Animal Husbandry and Dairying

The Animal Husbandry and Dairying sector have an important position in the overall economic development of the state as well as in the field of employment. Livestock products are an important source of protein and other nutrients, which are crucial to minimize the malnourishment levels in the state.

■ Livestock

• The latest Livestock Census of 2019 reveals that the total livestock population in Bihar has increased from 301.7 lakh in 2007 to 365.4 lakh in 2019, registering a growth rate of 21%.

• The cattle population accounted for nearly 42.1% (154.01 lakh) of the total livestock population, followed by goats at 35.1% (128.2 lakh) and buffaloes at 2.1% (77.2 lakh).

• In case of poultry, the population registered an increase from 114.2 lakh in 2007 to 165.3 lakh in 2019.

Livestock Services:

• In 2020-21, around 40.24 lakh animals were treated and about 49.96 lakh animals were immunized in Bihar.

• Several vaccination campaigns are being conducted as per the calendar and four important vaccinations i.e., HSBQ (Haemorrhagic Septicaemia and Blackquarter), F MDCP ( Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme-caused by Aphthovirus ), Brucellosis (bacterial infection) and PPR(Peste Des Petits Ruminants- viral vaccine) are given under the National Livestock Health and Disease Control Programme to protect against various infectious diseases.

• In 2020-21, the district-wise achievement of livestock services reveals that the immunization of animals was the highest in the district of East Champaran (3.31) lakh.

• The number of animals treated was the highest in Gaya (2.21 lakh).

• The coverage of artificial insemination stood at 36.29 lakh animals in 2020-21.

Government Initiatives:

• As part of the interventions to make technology accessible to women and marginalised farmers, animal health services are being provided through the 'Pashu Sakhi' delivery mode.

• The 2011 Bihar Animal Breeding Policy prioritizes animal breed development to increase milk output in the state.

• Recently, the Bihar Livestock Master Plan (2018-19 to 2022-23) has been developed to achieve higher quality animal and livestock products by increasing investments in input supply, technology, value addition, and marketing. This will also lead to higher employment and income for rural households in the state.

• For the next four years (2021-22 to 2024-25), a sum of ₹ 56 crore will be spent towards setting up of 7000 milk cooperative societies across all the villages of the state.

• The State Government has earmarked subsidies for the establishment of different capacities of goat breeding farms, broiler farms, and Layer Farms with feed meal. 

■ Dairy 

• During 2016-17 to 2020-21, Bihar's milk output increased from 87.10 lakh tonnes in 2016-17 to 115.01 lakh tonnes in 2020-21, registering an annual growth rate of 7.1%.

• The major sources of milk production in the state are cows (62.6 percent of the total milk production), followed by buffaloes (35.2 percent) and goat (2.2 percent). 

• The districts of Samastipur, Begusarai and Patna together contributed to 18.2% of the total milk production from cows. The major source of buffalo milk is Madhubani, Sitamarhi and East Champaran, which together contributed to 16.1 percent of the milk production in 2020-21. 

Government Initiatives:

• Under the state scheme of Samagra Gavya Vikas Yojana, a total of ₹73.45 crore has been approved in 2020-21 to provide subsidy for the establishment of dairy units of 2 and 4 milch cattle towards creation of self-employment and limiting the expenditure against the sanctioned amount to ₹ 50.00 crore among farmers/ livestock farmers/ unemployed youths of all classes of the state. 

• The dairy development initiatives are implemented by the Directorate of Dairy Development and Bihar State Milk Co-operative Federation Ltd. (COMFED). In recent years, Bihar has registered a significant increase in dairy farming, as evident from the steady increase in milk production. 

• The State Government is planning to set up new milk booths in all un-covered blocks and municipal areas, for which a total amount of ₹30.10 crore has been allotted.

■ Poultry:

The poultry development programme envisages strengthening poultry, meat and egg production in the state.

■ Egg

• The total egg production increased from 111.17 crores in 2016-17 to 301.32 crores in 2020-21, registering a growth rate of 32.4%.

■ Meat 

• Meat production has shown a steady increase and was recorded at 3.85 lakh tonnes in 2020-21.

Government Initiatives:

• Subsidies are being offered for large-scale distribution of poultry birds, as well as establishment of 5000/10,000 capacity layer poultry farms and 3000 capacity of Broiler poultry farms in the private sector, to enhance the availability of poultry eggs and meat. 

• Support for growth of desi chickens and low-input poultry species is also being provided by the State Government.

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