Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) on September 10, 2020. It is a scheme focused on the fisheries sector and sustainable development. The PMMSY is being implemented across all states and Union Territories for a period of five years, from the financial year 2020-21 to 2024-25.
The PMMSY is designed to address critical gaps in the fisheries value chain—ranging from fish production, productivity, and quality to technology, post-harvest infrastructure, and marketing. Its objective is to modernise and strengthen the value chain, enhance traceability, and establish a robust fisheries management framework, while also ensuring the socio-economic welfare of fishers and fish farmers.
Fish productivity in India increased from 2.3 tonnes per hectare in the financial year 2015 to 3.3 tonnes per hectare in the financial year 2019. This growth was made possible by government initiatives such as the PMMSY and the ‘Blue Revolution,’ which also led to a significant surge in total fish production.
Through the implementation of this scheme, the government aims to reduce post-harvest losses from 20–25% to 10%, double the income of fishers and fish farmers, and generate 55 lakh additional direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Key Objectives of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
-To increase fish production from 13.75 million metric tonnes in the financial year 2019 to 22 million metric tonnes by the financial year 2025.
-To increase fisheries productivity from three tonnes per hectare to five tonnes per hectare.
-To increase domestic per capita fish consumption from 5 kg to 12 kg. The fisheries sector’s contribution to the Gross Value Added (GVA) of agriculture is projected to rise from 7.28% in FY 2019 to approximately 9% by FY 2025.
-The target is to double export revenue from ₹46,589 crore (US$ 6.37 billion) in FY 2019 to ₹1,00,000 crore (US$ 13.68 billion) by FY 2025.
-Reducing post-harvest losses to approximately 10%.
-Generating 55 lakh (5.5 million) direct and indirect employment opportunities across the value chain.
-This scheme is being implemented across all states and Union Territories with an investment of ₹20,750 crore. Among other measures, the scheme provides for various welfare activities for fishers and fish farmers, including:
(i) Group accident insurance cover of up to ₹5.00 lakh in the event of an accident (for death or permanent total disability), ₹2.50 lakh (for permanent partial disability), and ₹25,000 (for accidental hospitalisation); and (ii) Livelihood and nutritional support for socio-economically backwards traditional fisher families during the fishing ban/lean period for the conservation of fish resources, providing assistance of ₹3,000 per fisher.
Additionally, since 2019, the Government of India has extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facility to fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements. To address infrastructure needs in the fisheries sector, the Central Government also established the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) in 2018-19 with a total corpus of ₹7,522.48 crore.
Although no specific survey has been conducted to assess the average income of fishermen over the past five years, various measures taken by the Government of India have led to increased fish production, productivity, and quality. This has met consumer demand and preferences while boosting exports, ultimately resulting in higher incomes for fishermen and fish farmers.
Furthermore, in the 2018-19 financial year, the Government of India extended the ‘Kisan Credit Card’ (KCC) facility to assist fish farmers and fishermen in meeting their working capital requirements. Since the inception of this scheme, a total of 5,01,900 Kisan Credit Cards have been sanctioned to fishermen and fish farmers, with a total disbursement of ₹3,692.73 crore.
The Department of Fisheries under the Central Government is implementing the ‘Climate-Resilient Coastal Fishermen Village’ (CRCFV) program, aimed at creating sustainable economic and livelihood opportunities for coastal fishermen. Under this program, fisheries-related infrastructure is developed, climate resilience is fostered, safety and security are enhanced, tourism is promoted, local communities are empowered, and the overall quality of life in coastal villages is improved.
