Freshwater aquaculture vital for food security

BHUBANESWAR: The National Water Policy as well as those drafted by the states should integrate fisheries and aquaculture into overall water development strategies not only to increase productivity but also to achieve the goals of food security, experts have emphasised.Only around 20-25 per cent of the water body capacity suitable for fisheries and aquaculture activities is being utilised in the country. Even if utilisation is raised to 50 per cent, taking into account the current levels of productivity at 2.7 tonne per hectare, fish production can be increased to 15-20 million tonne per year. Fish production in the country is now estimated to be around 8.3 million tonne per annum.   “We have been requesting the respective ministries and departments both at the Central and the states level to provide rights over water to the Fisheries wings”, joint secretary in the Union Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Tarun Sridhar here on Friday.  There is an urgent need to boost fresh water aquaculture in order to be able to feed the billions in the coming years.  World over, fish captures are registering a steep decline with only around 15 percent of the known resources both marine and inland are left. Thus the only way to be meet the rising demand due to the burgeoning population is to promote aquaculture. Freshwater aquaculture is also vital to create food security as it can be abundantly farmed and provided at very low costs, thus within the reach of lowest strata and the poorer sections.  Sridhar said that some states like Himachal Pradesh have taken the lead in the field. In Himachal, the Fisheries Department has been accorded the right to undertake fish farming activities in every water body.   “We need to move fast. While allowing water use for fisheries just like irrigation, drinking water supply and power, water bodies should be offered to fisheries and aquaculture activities. The reservoirs should be opened for the purpose”, Sridhar said.