New Delhi, 01 November (H.S.): Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, will visit Gangtok and Mangan districts of Sikkim on November 2 and 3. During the visit, he will inaugurate projects worth Rs. 375 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh will review fisheries development initiatives, launch the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for organic fish farming, inaugurate the PMMSY-funded projects and interact with fish farmers.

The visit is part of the structured mechanism for periodic visits by Union Ministers to the Northeastern Region, established under the guidance of the Prime Minister to ensure effective implementation of development programmes and obtain feedback from the ground. During the visit, the Union Minister will distribute Kisan Credit Cards to fish farmers and cheques under the Mukhya Mantri Matsya Uthpadhan Yojana (MMMUY).

The Union Minister will also interact with the Fish Farmers’ Cooperative Society during his visit to the Live Fish Vending Centre at Mangshila. The interaction will provide an opportunity to understand local-level requirements relating to fish marketing and cooperative activities.

He will also review fisheries development initiatives and interventions under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana at the District Administrative Centre (DAC) in Mangan and seek feedback from fisheries stakeholders on implementation-related challenges.

These interactions are expected to help assess the requirements for fisheries development in Sikkim, particularly in remote areas and geographically challenging locations.

With appropriate certification, value addition and a well-planned export strategy, the region has the potential to emerge as a centre of excellence in fisheries. Such initiatives can facilitate access to domestic and international markets, improve income realisation for fish farmers and strengthen their livelihoods.

The visit is expected to provide further impetus to modern fisheries development in Sikkim and the wider Northeastern Region, helping enhance fish farmers’ incomes and improve their access to national and international markets.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar