PIB Summary - 14th June 2025 | PIB (Press Information Bureau) Summary - UPSC PDF Download

Collaborative Push for PMMSY at Inland Fisheries Meet 2025

• India's inland fisheries sector is crucial for rural livelihoods, food security, and export potential.
• The Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Meet 2025 aimed to boost innovation, investment, and coordinated action in this sector.

Importance of the Fisheries Sector

• The fisheries sector is growing at a remarkable 9% annual rate, the highest among all agri-allied sectors.
• It supports approximately 3 crore livelihoods, particularly in rural and coastal communities.
• India has become the second-largest fish producer globally, with inland fish production increasing by 142% since 2013–14.

Government Interventions and Funding

• Major government schemes include the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri-Matsya Sampada Yojana (PM-MKSSY), and the Blue Revolution.
• An investment of ₹38,572 crore has been made towards modernization, infrastructure, credit access (Kisan Credit Card), and inclusive growth.
• These efforts aim to promote sustainable development, self-reliance, and export readiness.

Focus Areas Identified in the Meet

• Expanding culture area from 55 to 70 lakh hectares.
• Doubling productivity from 5 to 10 tonnes/ha through technology and quality inputs.
• Promoting coldwater fisheries, saline aquaculture, ornamental fishery, and value addition.
• Boosting export potential of shrimp, trout, and processed fish products.

Technology and Innovation

• Promotion of Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and Biofloc for sustainable, high-yield aquaculture.
• Encouragement of drone-based monitoring, use of digital tools, and data-driven decision-making.
• Highlighting the role of 300+ start-ups in tech innovation, processing, and post-harvest value chains.

Institutional and Policy Reforms

• Emphasis on brood banks and quality seed availability in collaboration with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• Call for reforms in leasing and licensing policies for reservoirs, wetlands, and riverine fisheries.
• Adoption of a cluster-based approach to cover the entire value chain, from seed to market.

State-Level Coordination and Federal Synergy

• Participation from 15+ inland states and Union Territories (UTs).
• Encouragement of alignment of state action plans with national objectives.
• Need for customized implementation based on local aquatic resources and priorities.

Infrastructure and Market Connectivity

• Emphasis on strengthening cold storage, transport chains, and market linkages.
• Focus on balancing supply-demand, especially in high-value species like Rohu and Catla.
• Potential use of Amrit Sarovar reservoirs for inland aquaculture.

Social and Economic Impacts

• Inland fisheries seen as a lever for nutritional security, especially protein for the poor.
• Doubling farmer incomes.
• Promoting rural entrepreneurship and economic diversification.
• Encouragement for integrating traditional knowledge with scientific innovation.

Challenges Highlighted

• Underutilization of central funding mechanisms.
• Gaps in cold chain infrastructure and export pathways.
• Need for better coordination between research bodies and implementing agencies.
• Skilling and capacity-building for traditional fishers still limited in many states.

Broader Takeaways

•  Inland fisheries represent a promising model of sustainable, technology-driven, and inclusive development. 
•  Reflects strong Centre-State cooperation, local participation, and integration of innovation with traditional livelihoods. 
•  Key to achieving goals of employment generation, rural resilience, and national food security. 

National Conference on Agri Stack: Turning Data into Delivery

Context and Objectives 

•  The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare to evaluate the progress and challenges of Agri Stack under the Digital Agriculture Mission. 
•  The aim was to promote farmer-centric, transparent, and data-driven governance by integrating digital infrastructure with agricultural schemes. 

Key Highlights

Secretary (Agriculture) emphasized the following points:

• There is an urgent need for States to link Farmer Registries with updated Records of Rights (RoR).
• Digital datasets should be used for personalized scheme delivery.

Secretary (DoLR) stressed the importance of:

• Aadhaar seeding and digital land records for accurate farmer identification.
• Better targeting of schemes to address rural issues like declining land value and income.

Digital Infrastructure Push

Integration of Farmer ID with various schemes such as PM-KISAN, PMFBY, and KCC.

Launch of.

• Digitally Verifiable Credentials (DVCs) or Kisan Pehchan Patra for authenticated land and crop verification.
• Farmer Authorization Systems for secure data sharing.
• Unified grievance redressal portal with features like OTP, multilingual support, and audio capabilities.

 Major Announcements 

 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, and Odisha to enhance State-level adoption. 
A Special Central Assistance (SCA) package of ₹6,000 crore was announced, including: 

•  ₹4,000 crore for Farmer Registry and legal heir systems. 
•  ₹2,000 crore for Digital Crop Survey (DCS), disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. 

State Innovations Showcased

• Maharashtra. AI sandbox (Mahavistaar AI), integration of Farmer Registry with DPE, and MahaDBT enrollment. 
• Uttar Pradesh. Integration of Agri Stack with MSP e-procurement and insights from DCS implementation. 
• Karnataka. Use of FRUITS with banks, disaster relief support, and soil health-linked advisories. 

Technology and AI Integration

•  Utilization of remote sensing, AI/ML tools, and automated data validation to enhance accuracy. 
•  Launch of an AI chatbot using Agri Stack and Google Gemini to support multilingual farmer interaction. 
•  Implementation of AI for crop identification, facial authentication of surveyors, and backend optimization. 

Challenges Identified

• Outdated tribal land records and gaps in RoR data.
• Errors in geotagging and photos for crop surveys.
• Non-compliance with Digital Crop Survey (DCS) standards.

Long-Term Vision

• To build a Unified Farmer Service Interface (UFSI) for streamlined service delivery.
• To enhance digital access to credit, crop insurance, subsidies, and advisory services.
• To ensure inclusive participation, especially for small and marginal farmers, through digital empowerment.

Broader Significance

•  Agri Stack represents a shift towards evidence-based and precision agriculture governance. 
•  It enables faster, more transparent, and better-targeted interventions in rural and farm economies. 
•  Strengthens Centre-State digital federalism in the implementation of agricultural reforms.