New Delhi, May 25 -- The Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying organized a 'Regional Review Meeting: Northeastern Region 2026' today in Aizawl, Mizoram, under the chairmanship of the Hon'ble Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj, in the gracious presence of George Kurian, Hon'ble Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Minority Affairs.
The meet will also witnessed the presence of eminent dignitaries Pu Lalthansanga, Minister of Fisheries, Mizoram; Krishnendu Paul, Minister of Fisheries, Assam Gabriel Denwang Wangsu, Minister of Fisheries, Arunachal Pradesh; Alexander Laloo Hek, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Meghalaya; H. Dingo Singh, Minister of Fisheries, Manipur; Sudhangshu Das, Minister of Fisheries, Tripura; Puran Kumar Gurung, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Sikkim; and A. Pangjung Jamir, Minister of Fisheries, Nagaland. This event was conducted in hybrid mode.
Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Hon'ble Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj inaugurated and laid the foundation for key projects amounting to about Rs. 32.15 crores under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), underscoring the Government's commitment to advancing and targeting the self-sustained fisheries sector in the Northeastern Region.
The Union Minister called for a collective and coordinated effort from all States and stakeholders to unlock the full potential of the fisheries sector in the Northeastern Region. He highlighted that the region has significant untapped potential, particularly in areas such as ornamental fisheries, which could emerge as a key driver of exports with targeted interventions. He noted the substantial growth in fisheries production in the Northeast region and emphasised the importance of integrated aquaparks and cluster-based development, with seven fisheries clusters already notified in the region, to strengthen the value chain. The Union Minister stressed the need to promote modern technologies such as Biofloc, develop digital identities through the National Fisheries Development Platform (NFDP) and enhance infrastructure, including the development of the approved fish marketing centre with cold chain facilities with total outlay of Rs.50 Cr in Mizoram. He further directed States to establish clear timelines and implementation frameworks to ensure timely completion of projects and accelerate sectoral growth.
George Kurian, Hon'ble Minister of State, MoFAH&D and Ministry of Minority Affairs, emphasised the need for greater adoption of modern and scientific technologies in fisheries to enhance productivity and ensure sustainable growth of the sector. The Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening logistics and supply chain systems, particularly in terms of transportation, cold chain, and market connectivity, to support seamless movement of fish and fish products and improve overall value realisation for stakeholders.
Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, highlighted that sustained efforts over the past five years have supported grounding of fisheries projects across the Northeastern Region, while emphasising the need to address region specific constraints through rationalised cost norms. He underscored the importance of quality seed, species diversification and polyculture, along with enhanced support from ICAR for region specific R&D. The Secretary stressed a strong focus on capacity building, value addition and export orientation, noting Northeast region'spotential to emerge as a hub for value added fisheries products. He further highlighted the role of reservoir development, cage culture, and timely implementation of schemes in bridging production gaps, alongside promoting digitisation, entrepreneurship, and private sector participation for accelerated and sustainable sectoral growth.
The State Fisheries Ministers highlighted various State level initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector, including implementation of schemes such as Mukhya Mantri Matsya Vikas Yojana and Matsya Sahayata Yojana, with focus on pond development, distribution of inputs, and financial assistance to fishers. They emphasised the immense potential of ornamental fisheries and called for promoting entrepreneurship, particularly among youth, by creating sustainable and attractive livelihood opportunities. The Ministers also stressed the need to boost integrated farming systems, develop aquarium infrastructure, and introduce skill development initiatives such as diploma courses in fisheries. Further, they requested revision of unit costs under PMMSY to better reflect regional conditions and improve implementation outcomes.
Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Fisheries), Government of India, presented the achievements and future roadmap for the fisheries sector in the Northeastern Region. During the presentation, it was highlighted that a total investment of approximately Rs.2,228 crore has been made under PMMSY across the region, supporting expansion of production systems, infrastructure development, and adoption of modern technologies. The presentation also outlined key priorities for strengthening the sector through focused interventions in productivity enhancement, value chain development, and sustainable growth.Dr. Bijay Kumar Behra, Chief Executive, NFDB, delivered the vote of thanks, effectively bringing the session to a close.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.