Tripura likely to attain self-sufficiency in fisheries by 2011 

Agartala, Sep 8 : Tripura is likely to attain self-sufficiency in fish production a year before its stipulated ten year plan target, state Fisheries Minister Khandra Jamatia said. 

Speaking at a day-long workshop of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) here yesterday on pisiculture, the minister said the state government had adopted a ten year plan target to make the state self-sufficient in fish production by 2012. 

The state government's aim is to supply 13 kg fish per head in the state whereas the present supply target all over the country is 11 kg fish per head, the minister said. 

Science and Technology Minister Joy Govinda Debroy, who presided over the workshop, stressed the need for utilisation of more scientific methods for the interest of both the state and people engaged in the field of pisciculture. 

The prices of all kinds of fish in the state are on a rising trend following non-arrival of fish from neighbouring Bangladesh. 

At present, fish markets are totally dependent on import of fish from outside the state as local production is much less than the demand. 

On an average, 18 to 20 tonnes of fish of various types were imported from the across the border daily earlier. 

But since the past 25 days, no fish was being imported from Bangladesh following rise in the value of US Dollar.