Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and e-Gopala App, a comprehensive breed improvement marketplace and information portal for direct use of farmers, which will do away with the role of middlemen in procurement and purchase.

After inaugurating the projects in Bihar virtually, Modi interacted with many farmers involved in dairy and other animal rearing work. During the ceremony Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Union Minister for Animal Husbandry Giriraj Singh were also present.

Speaking on the occasion Modi said, "India is inching towards a goal wherein the village itself there will be food processing clusters and research units." He said the target in 'Blue Revolution' is to double the export of fish products and Ganga rejuvenation plan will help the people involved in the profession.

"The project has been started in 21 states and Rs 20,000 crore will be spent in the next four-five years. An amount of Rs 1,700 cr has been initiated to start the project," said the Prime Minister.

As of now, the Department of Fisheries has approved Rs 1,723 crore worth of proposals for 21 states and Union Territories in phase-I under the PMMSY. Priority has been accorded for income-generating activities under the scheme.

Modi also interacted with farmers and producers involved in dairy farming and other professions, and told them that the government will arrange a tour to the Amul facility in Gujarat for the farmers to get more experience to increase production.

This is a big-ticket launch ahead of the Bihar elections. The Prime Minister emphasized that a lot of effort is being put in to reach the beneficiaries of PMKGY and especially to the migrant labourers who have returned to their native places.

The Prime Minister said that under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PMKSN) 10 crore (100 million) farmers have benefited out of which 75 lakh farmers are from Bihar and Rs 6,000 crore has been deposited in their accounts.

The PMMSY is a flagship scheme for focused and sustainable development of the fisheries sector with an estimated investment of Rs 20,050 crore, as a part of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' package. This is the highest-ever investment in the fisheries sector. Of this, an investment of about Rs 12,340 crore is proposed for beneficiary-oriented activities in Marine, Inland fisheries and Aquaculture while about Rs 7,710 crore are proposed for Fisheries Infrastructure.

Prime Minister Modi also announced the establishment of a Fish Brood Bank at Sitamarhi, and the Aquatic Disease Referral Laboratory at Kishanganj, for which assistance has been provided under PMMSY.

(IANS)