OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE BIRBHUM DISTRICT

FISHERY DEPARTMENT

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DISTRICT PROFILE IN RESPECT OF FISHERIES SECTOR

A)    FISHERY RESOURCES IN BIRBHUM 

·  Total tanks -             21376.87 ha

   Vested (whole)-            817.32ha

  Vested (Partial)-           425.04 ha

   Private ownership-   20134.51 ha

   Culturable  -             14833.80 ha

   Semi- derelict-           4798.09 ha

   Derelict -                    1744.98 ha 

·  Beel & Baor-                   632.16 ha

·  Reservoir-                      9416.53 ha

·  River-                              795.63 ha

·  Canal-                            5696.85ha

·  Total fishermen-           200747 no.

·  Total Fishermen families-49751no.

·  Fishermen Co-operative Society-20 (Functioning -8 no)

·  Central Fishermen Co-operative Society-  1

·  Fish seed hatchery   -  8 and other  3 under construction

·  Water & soil testing laboratory- 2 no.

B)    DEMAND & PRODUCTION OF FISH SEED & TABLE FISH  

·  Total annual demand of  table fish  -  29500 MT

·  Total annual production of  table fish-26100 MT

·  Total annual demand of fish seed-

                 Spawn-   400 million

                 Fingerling- 75 million

                 Fry               40 million                             

·  Total annual production of fish seed-

                 Spawn -   300 million

                 Fingerling-60 million

                 Fry-           30 million

c)     TRAINIED  PERESONNELS  

·  4 days training -                         1905 no

·  15/10 days training ( F.F.D.A.)- 12033 no

·   30/20 days district level training- 780 no

·  90/75 days state level training-       65no

·  30days  training on net fabrication for woman - 400 no

·  3 months certificate course (Sponsored by  Netaji Open university)-  49

D)    INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FISHERMEN 

·  Dwelling house of Fishermen constructed-      306 no.

·  Fishermen’s village road developed-                  29.7 km.

·  Setting up of tube well for drinking water in fishermen village-6 no.

·  Community hall                                                                           4 no.

·  Setting up of lavatory for fishermen-                                          1 no.

 

            Organizational Structure

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Activities in Brief


EXTENSION ACTIVITIES: 

1) Statistical wing-  There is a s small statistical wing with the district Fishery Department. Main activities of this wing is to collect different types of data starting from resource , production to marketing which enable the Department  to prepare plan for developmental activities. 

2) Fishery training - Major importance has been given on training part of fish farmers as to provide technical guidance. F.F.D.A. farmers as well as intending pisciculturists  are provided fishery training to equip then with basic technical know how of “Scientific Pisciculture “. There are different types of training  programme such as 1) Grass root level training programme

                                      2) Ten days training for F.F.D.A. fish farmers (Block level)

                                      3) Twenty days district level training programme .

                                      4) Three months State level training programme.

                 Besides, 3 months certificate course on Fishery is being conducted in the district in collaboration with the Netaji Subhas Open University. Trainees under different training programme are provided stipends where as students under certificate course have to pay course fees. 

3) Water and Soil testing laboratory:-    Only training is not sufficient for increasing productivity. A farmer should know the quality of water and soil of his pond by which is can apply fertilizer and manure in correct doze to avoid misuse. For which a district level laboratory has set up to facilitate fish farmers. Fish farmers A P L group have to pay a nominal charge for testing whereas a fish farmers from BPL can avail these facilities free. 

4)  Awareness Programme :-   More importance is given on awareness among the fish farmers and fishermen regarding eco-friendly culture system to get sustainable yield without affecting the environment. Emphasis is given on conservation, Reclamation & utilization of resources by which a sustainable production is possible. For that 16th June and 10th July have been earmarked as Wet land day and fish farmers respectively and the days are celebrated every year. Besides, Block level fish farmers day, awareness camp and workshops are conducted to grow awareness among the fish farmers and fishermen. 

5) Setting up of Demonstration Centre :-  To introduce new culture system, the department provides facility for setting up Demonstration Centre, liked D.C. on composite fish culture, D.C. on Air Breathing fish culture etc. in the district as a part of extension service and to disseminate new technology .

CITIZEN CENTRIC ACTIVITIES : 

1)Inland Fisheries Act :-   To protect &  proper utilization of water bodies(main fishery resource) Inland Fisheries Act have been formulated by the Govt.  of West Bengal in the year 1984 which are been amended time to time . Main objectives of the acts are :-

a) Water body above five kathas can not be filled in any way- laid down in the   section 17(a). There is provision for  punishment up to imprisonment and or fine for the breach of Act. 

b)No water body can be left idle/ un-utilised for  aquaculture which is laid down in the section 8(a).In such cases the water bodies can be possessed by the fisheries department and are settled with the Fish Production Groups/Self Help Groups/ Fishery Co- operatives for management.  

2) Fisherman Identity Card :- There is provision to issue fisherman identity cards to fish farmers and fishermen which are essential for them for various purposes such as for getting loan, insurance, old age pension etc. moreover, as identity of fisherman to avoid different hazards while they fish at international border areas. 

       3)Old-age pension :- Under the scheme the fisherman aged above 60 years           unable to work are provided Rs. 300/ per month. Selection of pensioners is made by  the  Panchayet authorities. 

4)Fisherman insurance scheme:- There is a provision of insurance scheme to the poor distressed fisherman for providing economic support in case of accident. In case of death insurance coverage is of Rs.50,000/ where as Rs. 25,000/ incase of  physical  disabled persons.      

5)Distribution of minikit:-   Minikit in the form of flood minikit comprising fish seed and lime for fish farmers and net and handies for fishermen are distributed to the beneficiaries of flood affected areas. Selection  of beneficiaries made by the  panchayet bodies. 

6)Economic upliftment of  Tribal  people:- Government has given more importance on the upliftment of tribal people. Naturally, Fisheries Department provides Fishery inputs like fish seed, lime, fisheries to the tribal fish farmers for fish culture and fishery  requisits like net, handies to the tribal beneficiaries for fish catching free of  cost. Also, the tribal people are encouraged to take up integrated fish farming  like piggery cum fishery with full financial assistance from the Govt. 

7)Social fishery:- Promotion of pisciculture in community/ institutional/organizational tanks are taken under social fishery scheme(Fully subsidized) which are managed by un-employed youth/Fish Production Group for their income generation in rural areas. Beneficiaries are selected  by the Panchayet bodies. 

8)Infrastructural development scheme:-. Not only to produce fish, but also there is scope for development of infrastructural facilities by which Fishermen can uplift their social and economic status as well as easy marketing system. Different projects are taken up under this schemes such as :-

a)Construction of huts for poor homeless fishermen .under model village scheme.

b) construction of link road to facilitate marketing system.

c) construction of community hall at fisherman concentrated areas.

d) sinking of tube wells  to provide safe drinking water.

               e) construction of flood shelter at flood prone areas.        

DEVELOPMENTAL  ACTIVITIES: 

1.     Inland fishery Project (FFDA) :-  Fish Farmers Development Agency under Inland Fisheries Project has been set up in each district with the aim to bring all the derelict ,semi derelict and culturable water bodies under this project to increase fish production to meet fish protein demand by providing technical and financial support to the fish farmers  for scientific culture in the way of group training ,technical guidance and bank  loan clubbed with Govt. subsidy respectively. Birbhum FFDA is functioning since 1980 in all 19 Blocks. There are different bankable schemes under FFDA  which are 8711 ha. Of water areas have been covered so far under FFDA where 11911 of fish farmers have been trained and 14848 nos. benefited.

Schemes under  FFDA

1 Renovation pond upto0.3m and pisciculture

2 Renovation pond upto 0.6m and pisciculture(0.6m)

3 Renovation pond upto1m and pisciculture(1m)

4 Carp culture with prawn in culturable pond

5 Excavation of pond upto 2.5m and culture of carps with prawn

6 Fish culture with  diesel pump. 

2.     Short term credit   Recently short term credit (without subsidy) and Kishan  Credit Card have been introduced in fishery like Agriculture where FFDA farmers already repaid their loan and oral lease may also avail of the credit facility. Short term Credit:- With this credit facility a fish farmer can yet working capital loan which is re-payable after 3,6 or 12 months 3  nos. of schemes are running under this credit facility which are

                       1)Nursery management – repay after 3 months

                       2)Rearing managemernt- repay after 6 months

                       3)Production of table fish- repay after 1 year

158 ha. of water areas have been brought under STC in 2004-2005 where 190 nos. of fish farmers have been benefited. Emphasis has been given to bring more water areas under this STC programme. 

3.     R.S.V.Y-  In our district out of 19 Blocks, 218 nos Backward villages under 18 blocks have been identified for Rastriya Sama Vikas Yojana Programme (R.S.V.Y)  , of which 10 Blocks are covered whole and 8 Blocks are covered partly under this programme. This   programme is sponsored by Central Government to mitigate poverty elimination, up-liftment of  the socio-economic status of people, who live below poverty level..It’s a joint venture of Panchayet functionaries,Govt.Deptt.&Financing Banks.For successful implementation of the programme . The schemes  under  RSVY as follows-     

·        Renovation of Khas tanks

·        Setting up  of Fish seed hatchery

·        Setting up of fish feed plant

·        Nursery pond management.

·        Rearing pond management

·        Transportation of fish seed

·        Production of table fish through Composite fish culture in culturable tanks.

·        Demonstration Centre of poly culture of prawn with carp

·        Poly culture of prawn with carp

·        Tank fishery development and fish culture.

·        Air- breathing fish culture with catla& silver carp in seasonal water bodies.

·        Integrated pisciculture with ducks

·        Integrated pisciculture  with poultry birds

·        Fishing craft.

·        Fishing gear

·        Table fish vendering.

·         Demonstration Centre on ornamental fish culture 

            For taking up development activities man power, those who will take up these     activities, are to develop. For that , Fishery Co-operative Society & groups have been formed, which are 

4). Fishery Co-operative Society:    Three tier co–operative system exits in the state. But in our district one district level  Central Fisherman Co-operative Society and a number of Primary co-operative societies  are functioning for enhancement of fish production with the aim to uplift socio- economic condition of the fisherman 

5)Fish production group and Selp Help Group:     The concept of group formation in our department has come since 1981and has been notified with the inland fisheries act. Still the FPG are  formed in different block areas for promotion of pisciculture .Besides, in the recent years SHG concept has come up. SHG are being formed in all the panchayet samities and khas tanks are being settled with them for pisciculture.

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Projects Running

·        Extension Activities including training ,awareness ,demonstration centre.

·        Inland Fisheries Project (FFDA) & Short term credit.

·        R.S.V.Y projects.

·        Economic upliftment of tribal people.

·        Welfare programme for the fishermen.

·        Infrastructural development.

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Success Stories

1) Sainthia  Block    Sri Dayamay Das  is renowned as a progressive fish farmer in  sainthia block.  He resides in lebra gram panchayet of village  Parui . He was of keen interest in pisciculture from his childhood.  In that time the financial condition of Mr. Das  was not stable. So  he started  pisciculture  in “Barapukur” pond with the  technical and financial help from  Fisheries department and MGB Parui Bank branch respectively in the year 2002. Now his financial condition is sound and he  is engaged in aquaculture activity in 20 nos of ponds. He creates employment opportunity for local people. 

2) Nalhati I  Block    Bhim Konai is a poor, illiterate and un employed youth of Bautia village of  Nalhati I block. He used to pisciculture since 1998. He was trained from this department,avail financial assistance from MGB Bautia Branch  to start  pisciculture in the year 2003.  Now his financial condition is sound enough to give employment to other un -employed youth. 8-10 numbers of people are  now working under his leadership. 

3) Mayureswar II    Maheswar Pal is a progressive fish farmer in  Mayureswar II block. His father name  is Let Shayamapada  Pal. He is a habitant of kumar pur village of this block. He is graduate  and started  pisciculture with the guidance of fishery department of this district. He got technical assistance from  FFDA and financial assistance from bank in the year 1998.  He has been able to enhance his financial condition by fishery activities. 

4) Bolpur – Sriniketan Block   Sri Sushil Mondal is a poor unemployed  youth of Kuchali village of this block. He got training on fishery from  Fishery department .He started  pisciculture with the financial assistance from FFDA  in the year 2001. Now he is doing  composite fish culture in four ponds. Two ponds are engaged for nursery management . Now he is a  renowned ,well known  and financially sound fish farmer in this area . 

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Forms Available ( Downloadable)

 

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Form Description

F F D A  Application Forms  No.- 1

2 F F D A  Application Forms  No.- 2
3 S T C Application Forms
4 R. S. V. Y. Application Forms

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Contact Details

Assistant Director of Fisheries ,

Birbhum, Meen Bhawan, 

Suri, Birbhum

 Ph. No. 03462-255419

Chief Executive Officer ,

FFDA ,Birbhum, Meen Bhawan,

Suri, Birbhum 

Ph. No.03462-255313

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 West Bengal , India. Telephone No: 03462 255032