Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 03 2021: Fisheries Foundation Union, Manipur chairman M Tombi said that fish farmers of the state will participate in the fish fair being oganised on November 5 in connection with Ningol Chakkouba festival.
Addressing a press meet on Wednesday, Tombi said that fish farmers earlier decided to stay away from the fish fair as they were unhappy with the government's failure of releasing the Rs 129 crore fund sanctioned by the NCD for fish farmers.
Chief Minister N Biren once announced to release Rs 19 crore out of the total fund during a public function but fish farmers met him and proposed for release of the fund in one go.
As a result, the government delayed in releasing the fund but the government is not denying the fund, he acknowledged.
The state is facing shortage of fish and the gap in market demand is filled by fish imported from other states.
In order to reduce dependency on other states, the government had already provided Rs 18 crore as financial assistance to 524 fish farmers through the Manipur State Cooperative Bank, he said and appealed to the government to take up special initiatives for fish farmers keeping in view of the hardships caused by Covid-19 pandemic.
He also called upon the fish farmers of the state to take maximum advantage of the government's initiatives and make Manipur a self-reliant state in terms of fish production.
The union's secretary Angom TIken said that he had won several state awards in the state level fish fair.
The fair is once in a year event tied up with the historic Ningol Chakkouba festival and every fish farmer should play their part in making the fair successful.
Besides, the chief minister is also attending the fair for the first time, he said.
Joint secretary of the union Rahul Sharma was also present during the press meet.