Agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh seeks PPP model in fisheries sector

MUMBAI: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh today said there is a need of a "blue revolution" and called for public private partnership (PPP) model for the development of fisheries and aquaculture sector.

"The government is aiming for a 'blue revolution'. I feel that by the next Budget, we will be able to bring about a blue revolution for the fishermen," Singh told the 12th convocation of the Central Institute of Fisheries Education here today.

"We talk of green and white revolutions, but we need to look at blue revolution too, in fisheries. There is great scope for development there. We also need to see the public-private partnership model to develop fisheries and aquaculture sector," he said.

Domestic fishery production is around 10 million tonnes, of which 3.4 million tonnes is marine and 5.6 mt inland fisheries, making the country second largest in the world after China.

The minister earlier held a review meeting in Mumbai with state government officials of agriculture and animal husbandry department. He discussed at length all the issues relating to agriculture and allied sectors.

He instructed officials to give priority in providing soil health cards to all farmers in the next three years. He also suggested that cow sanctuary project may be prepared on the same lines as in MP.