Tura, October 29:- A one day training and awareness programme for the members of the Fisheries Cooperative Societies of West Garo Hills District was organised at SMELC, Dakopgre, Tura on Wednesday.

The event was organised by Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy for Cooperative Research and Development (LINAC), Regional Training Centre, NCDC, Guwahati, and Department of Fisheries, Ministry of FAHD, Govt. of India, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, West Garo Hills.

The programme focused on the various schemes for fish farmers under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a flagship central government programme meant to develop and modernise the fisheries sector.
Resource persons held awareness sessions on the various financial assistance schemes of the department of fisheries, GOI, under Fish Farmer Producer Organisation (FFPO), Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund (FIDF), and PMMSY. The role of the Department of Fisheries in the development of the fisheries sector in the state was also stressed during the technical session and the role of the NCDC in the development of Fisheries Cooperatives across the country was also discussed during the session.

Officials who spoke at the inaugural function stressed on the need for Meghalaya to become self reliant in fish production. According to officials the state requires 32,000 MT of fish annually. With the state’s own production hovering around 20,000 MT the deficit is met through imports from other States. Changing food habits and consumption of fish as a healthy alternative to other kinds of meat has led to a steady increase in its demand over the years.

Some of the dignitaries present and who spoke at the inaugural programme were Shri. Jonathan H. Suchiang, Joint Director, Department of fisheries, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. R.N. Rymbai, ARCS, Cooperation Department, Government of Meghalaya, Shri. Challang N. Marak, Superintendent of Fisheries, West Garo Hills, and Shri. Jagadeshwar Rao S, Deputy Director, NCDC, SO, Shillong.