• To promote Inland Fishery, the Department has 108 fish farms out of which 19 are breeding farms (with hatcheries). By the end of 2003-04, 71 farms were under Departmental management, 17 had been leased out and 4 had been transferred to other Departments while 16 farms needed restoration.
  
• The total demand of fish seed in the State is approximately 50 crores. The fish seed demand is met from sources like Department hatcheries, OPDC hatcheries, private hatcheries and traders. The performance of fry production during 2003-04 is as under. 

In order to bridge the gap in the fish seed demand and supply, stress has been given in private sector. AT the end of 2003-04, 30 fish seed hatcheries and 25 happa units have been established in private sector in the State. Besides, 313 Fry Rearing units have also been developed in Private Sector to meet the seed requirement.

• There is one Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) in each of the 30 districts of the State. Fresh Water Pisciculture in the State is being promoted through FFDA, by providing technical, financial and extension assistance to the fish farmers. Since inception till end of 2003-04, an area of 54153.66 hectares have been brought under the fold of scientific management.
  
  During 2003-04, 1997 Pisciculturists have been benefited through subsidized schemes. Training has been imparted to 1016 Pisciculturists and 2107 tanks have been developed covering an area of 644.45 hectare under FFDA programme. The FFDA’s have also collected Rs.18.40 lakhs from the beneficiaries towards “User’s Fee”.
  

Poly-culture and Integrated farming:

The FFDAs have initiated Polyculture and integrated fish farming through NABARD approved Schemes. Responses of the farmers are quite encouraging. So, this type of farming has been initiated to generate additional income in co-effective manner.

• The spawn and fry production during 2003-04 is as follows: 

As against the target of Rs.1.32 crore income from sale of seed and fish, the earning during 2003-04 has been Rs. 1.58 crores.

• Scampi (Fresh Water Prawn) Culture: - In private sector Monoculture of fresh water prawn has been initiated in the coastal districts of the State. Sixth numbers of tanks covering an area of 44.44 ha. have been stocked with juveniles under this programme with stocking of 51.56 lakhs of fresh water prawn seed. Besides that 69.54 lakhs of fresh water prawn seed were stocked under Polyculture and altogether 92.88 M.T. of fresh water prawn have been harvested valued at Rs.1,34,412.40. To popularise the mono-culture of Freshwater Prawn among the pisciculturists of the State, scampi culture have been undertaken in joint venture with the Entrepreneurs of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa Pisciculture Development Corporation Ltd. at Bhanjanagar and Saramanga Fish Seed Hatchery Projects.
  
• Fresh Water Capture Fisheries: - In the State, there is nearly 1,97,000 hectares of suitable water spread area in the form of reservoirs. During 9th Five year Plan, 53 reservoirs have been covered under World Bank assistance In 10th Plan period, a massive reservoir development Programme has been chalked out in 8 KBK districts under Revised Long Term Action Plan through Special Central Assistance. During 2002-03, 23 reservoirs having 2429 ha. mean water spread area have been developed at an investment of Rs. 114.34 lakhs. Similarly during 2003-04, 60 reservoirs having mean water spread area of 2871 ha. are under development and for this purpose Government have released Rs. 250.00 lakhs.. Under this scheme, priorities have been given on 1st year stocking of fingerlings in the reservoirs, provision of captive nurseries and fish landing sheds, supply of boats and nets, training and exposure visits. The scheme also envisages 10% savings on each component as beneficiary share for development of a corpus fund called “Reservoir Development Fund” for sustainable post project operations. Integrated approach has been infused into the scheme by introducing Duckary, poultry, gotary, horticulture etc. to improve the financial standard of the beneficiaries through generation of additional income.

(RLTAP Reservoir Fishery Programme)