Kumaoni women to make fishing gears
RUDRAPUR: Fishing gear fabrication is considered mainly a bastion of men but now Kumaoni women will try their hands on making fishing nets as the fisheries department will provide them training in Jaspur, US Nagar.
“Our department will train women in fishing gear fabrication (making various types of fish nets) in Jaspur through fisheries growth centre shortly. A team of central institute of fisheries technology from Gujarat will visit here to provide them training. A group of 30 women has been identified for such training,” said Ravindra Kumar, senior inspector of fisheries department in US Nagar.
US Nagar district has around 450 fish ponds and thousands of locals get employment directly and indirectly. Also, fish are reared in five dams of the district by the fisheries department.
Earlier, fish pond owners and fishermen depended on Uttar Pradesh for fishing gears. To reduce dependency from UP, the fisheries department has planned to provide training to women of fishermen community.
After training, the women will make fishing gears like fishing nets like ghaghiriya net, chatti net and so on used in rearing and catching fish.
“To reduce the dependency on fishing gears from UP training is being provided to women here to make different kinds of fishing nets. This initiative will not only reduce the dependency on from UP but also provide employment to women of the fishermen community,” said Kumar.
The fisheries department has also set up a feed mill at Paiga village with the cost of ₹38 lakh to provide feed to fish pond owners.
Fisheries officials are planning to engage some women through a self-help group to provide value added fish items like fish cutlet, fish pakora, fish momo, curry and other items.