An overview of growth and future prospects of fish farming in the North-East India

Abstract

In line with tremendous fish production and growth of the fisheries sector, it is to be recorded that it has shown a dramatic rise in recent years, especially in India. A fisherman or fisher is a person who captures fish and other aquatic animals from a water body. At the primary level, about 16 million fishers and fish farmers are employed in this sector, and along the value chain, that number is almost twice as high. This indicates a great potential for livelihood generation and economic advancement as a whole. North-eastern part of India is endowed with diversified fishery resources. Although the Northeastern India is naturally rich and significant in terms of fisheries, in this paper we will provide more emphasis on state of Assam. The ponds, rivers, derelict water areas, beels (wetlands), reservoirs etc. holds the major potential; specifically encompassing an area of about 2.86 Lakh hectares in Assam only. This untapped food reservoir can be termed as 'fisheries potential'. Technology can act as a core catalyst in transforming fish production and trade in Assam. The basic objective of our study is to analyse the trend of fish production what are the prospects of technology intervention are there and how it can be a source of livelihood. This study allows us to understand the current trends in fish production, livelihood aspects and technological advancements in the sector. However, a holistic approach will surely be of greater result than a standalone initiative. Our study is primarily based on secondary sources of data. These may deliberate emphasis on the harmonized utilization and to achieve projected results for govt. release in upliftment of the sector and the current trend of fish production in the state; for the greater interest of the farming community. Digital advances now allow innovative monitoring equipment to better manage fish stocks and productivity, which are used in all stages of the value chain. New technologies, including Big Data, the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors, robotics, data storage and transmission will become more compact and cheaper thus encouraging their use.