Due to export demand and rising fish consumption in India more and more perspective entrepreneurs are taking pisciculture seriously and the sector also provides ample opportunity for self-employment. Indian state Orissa has taken the current availability of 2.39 lakh tonnes of fish and per capita consumption at 9 kg, the State is facing a shortage of over 90 thousand tonnes.
It is estimated that by the end of 2010-11 the fish requirement of the state will be over 3.65 LT assuming the total population at 4.14 crore subject to the current consumption pattern. It is informed that the projected shortfall of fish both inland and marine will be about 1.25 LT by 2010- 11. Since marine fish production has not demonstrated substantial increase over the years because of lack of Government support and several national and international regulations, expansion of inland fisheries promises greater employment opportunity.
In the inland sector, Orissa has a present production of fish from reservoirs is 77 kg per hectare, the productivity can be enhanced to 124 kg per hectare through scientific culture, informed an official. The government has decided to expand horizontally the culturable area by addition of 38,000 hectares of water area, this required huge investment. Apart from infrastructure development, the sector required a credit flow of over Rs 656 core as against the current flow of Rs 20 crore.
It is said that the state government should take up the credit need of the prospective entrepreneurs with commercial banks which are reluctant to finance because of the risk involved in the sector.
