Fishing of Telangana | Telangana State PSC (TSPSC): Preparation Course - TSPSC (Telangana) PDF Download

Fisheries in India

• Indian fisheries and aquaculture play a crucial role in food production, ensuring nutritional security, boosting agricultural exports, and involving around fourteen million individuals in various activities.
• India possesses diverse aquatic resources, ranging from deep seas to mountain lakes, harboring over 10% of the world's fish and shellfish species. Since independence, the country has consistently increased fish production.
• Constituting approximately 6.3% of global fish production, the sector contributes 1.1% to the GDP and 5.15% to the agricultural GDP.
• The total fish production stands at 10.07 million metric tonnes, with inland fisheries and culture fisheries contributing nearly 65% each.
• Significant shifts have occurred with a rising focus on inland fisheries and aquaculture, reflecting in high growth rates across marine fisheries, coastal aquaculture, inland fisheries, freshwater aquaculture, and coldwater fisheries, impacting various sectors like food, health, economy, exports, employment, and tourism.
• Blue Revolution

Blue Revolution

• There is significant untapped potential in fisheries and aquaculture, which can greatly enhance livelihoods and promote women's empowerment.
• The advancement of aquaculture relies on the adoption of innovative technologies, effective management, utilization of underutilized water resources, and establishing suitable market connections.
• Reservoir fisheries present a significant opportunity to boost fish production within the country.
• While coastal fisheries have been extensively exploited, deep-sea fisheries resources remain largely untapped.
• Diversification and the cultivation of high-value products will introduce new dimensions to the aquaculture sector.
• Proper post-harvest practices, loss reduction strategies, and hygienic primary processing are crucial to realizing the full potential of the sector.
• Effective marketing strategies are essential to ensure satisfactory returns for fishers and farmers, while also providing good quality fish at affordable prices to consumers.
• An end-to-end approach, from ensuring adequate input availability to efficient marketing, is envisioned to create a 'win-win' scenario for both fish producers and consumers.

Fishing of Telangana 

• Fisheries in Telangana are experiencing rapid growth, providing significant income and employment opportunities. The primary goal of the sector is to maximize the utilization of all available resources in both capture and culture fisheries to enhance fish production and productivity sustainably.
• The sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, improving nutrition and health, securing livelihoods for rural communities, and promoting the well-being of fishermen.

Resources of Fishing in Telangana  

Natural Resources

• Inland Resources: Telangana boasts 78 reservoirs and approximately 35,031 perennial, long seasonal, and short seasonal tanks, covering a total water area of 5.87 lakh hectares.
• Pond Culture: The region has 781 hectares dedicated to pond culture.
  

Telangana State Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation Ltd, Hyderabad

• The Telangana State Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation Ltd, Hyderabad (TSFCOF) aims to engage in activities that promote, procure, process, and market fish and fishery products to foster the overall development of the fishermen community in economic, social, and cultural spheres.
• Registered under the APCS Act 1964 with registration number 1/2015 on 25-02-2015, this organization operates as the apex federation under the governance of the Telangana state government.
• It acts as an agent of the State Government, committing to execute policies designed by the government to enhance the fishery resources and the well-being of fishermen.

Objectives of Federation

• Facilitating the marketing of fresh and dry fish by procuring from the cooperative societies.
• Providing essential inputs such as nets, gears, and coracles to the fishermen.
• Engaging in the export of fish products.
• Offering training to fishermen on innovative fisheries techniques.
• Functioning as a representative of the State Government to implement policies aimed at the development of fisheries and fishermen.

Membership

There shall be 3 Classes of membership as Under:

• 'A' Class Membership: Available to District level Fishermen Cooperative Societies.
• 'B' Class Membership: Open to Government entities.
• Nominal Membership: Primary Fisheries Coop-societies can join as associate members without voting rights to access Federation services.
• Share Requirement: Each member must possess at least one share.
• Delegate Appointment: Societies falling under byelaw No. 3(a) must send their President/Chairman as a delegate to the Federation by Managing Committee resolution.

Managing Committee

The management authority of the Federation is vested in a Board of Directors comprising 5 members. The Managing Committee is constituted as follows for a duration of five years.

• 5 Directors from 'A' Class share holders, elected by representatives of 'A' Class Share holders.
• 1 Director nominated by N.C.D.C.
• Principal Secretary to Govt/ Secretary to the Government, Fisheries Department or nominee.
• The Commissioner of Fisheries or nominee.
• Ex-officio Member: Managing Director of the Federation.
• Appointment Process: The Managing Director is appointed, while elected directors choose a President and Vice-President from their ranks. Any elected Board member can resign by submitting a resignation letter to the Managing Director, with the acceptance process handled by the Committee. Vacancies are filled through cooption within a similar category.

Government of Telangana, Fisheries Department

Vision

• Optimal utilization of natural resources for fish production, promoting freshwater aquaculture, supported by infrastructure and trained manpower.

Mission

• Holistic development of the sector, focusing on enhancing productivity and production.
• Ensuring self-sufficiency in fish seed demand.
• Supplying fish at an affordable price in hygienic conditions.
• Implementing welfare schemes for fishers.

Details of schemes/programmes

Developmental Schemes

• Leasing of water bodies to Fishermen Cooperative Societies (FCSs) for the development of fishing in Telangana.
• Stocking of fish seed on a 100% grant basis in reservoirs and tanks.
• Strengthening Government fish seed farms.
• Establishing fish markets in Gram Panchayats and Municipalities.
• Setting up community halls.
• Installing cages in water bodies.
• Providing subsidies for the construction of fish/prawn ponds and inputs for the first year.
• Organizing Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for fishermen/women and providing a revolving fund.

Welfare Schemes of Fishing of Telangana

• Group Accident Insurance scheme provided to fishermen and ex-gratia
• Relief-cum-savings scheme
• Assistance offered for the construction of houses to fishermen

Extension Programs of Fishing of Telangana

• Conducting awareness programs for Fishermen, Fisherwomen, Farmers, and entrepreneurs
• Organizing capacity building programs for field functionaries to transfer knowledge to farmers and fishermen
• Arranging field visits to educate farmers and fishermen
• Organizing state and national level workshops and seminars in coordination with other fisheries-related organizations such as KVK, ATMA, NGOs

Regulatory Activities of Fishing of Telangana

• Implementation of regulatory activities to manage and oversee fishing operations