Sri Lanka boosts fisheries industry
President Mahinda Rajapaksa took the initiative to introduce a new programme when he was the Minister of Fisheries. He started the Diywara village system, Diyawara loan system, fishery technology, etc., in this field.
Today, he has appointed Dr. Rajitha Senaratne as the Minister of Fisheries to make his vision a reality. Dr. Senaratna took steps to transform the building and engineering sections of the ministry into profitable ventures although they were closed down for some time.
Minister Senaratna has planned to provide all the facilities for the fishing community by developing 790 sea water fishery harbours, 772 fish water ferries with the provision of many facilities to increase the efficiency and the productivity of the fishermen. Dr. Senaratne succeeded in inland fish production in 2010. It was 384,670 metric tonnes and in 2011 this harvest was recorded as the maximum harvest in history. In the year 2013, the overall production is expected to increase up to 686,000 M.T.
Minister Rajitha Senaratna has made arrangements to empower the fisher folk with new techno- logical knowledge with the training of fishermen through NARA. With the use of satellite technology including many other facilities with modern technology has been provided. It helps to prevent (IUUillegal, unregistered and unregulated) fish catching. The minister has focused his attention on the delimitation of marine region and to minimize anti-human activities of some fishing boats.
In this way, 10 large-scale refrigeration facility stores are planned to be installed including mobile refrigeration facilities to the Northern Province through Fishery Corporation. The minister has instructed to build 8000 fresh water reservoirs and his target is to increase production up to 98,000 M.T. in 2013. Arrangements have been made to manufacture fishing boats and long journey boats with a view to increasing the production. In addition to that, home boat production is in progress on behalf of tourist industry. At present, arrangements have been made to manufacture two mother vessels for the use of fishing as well as tourism. With the leadership of Minister Senaratna, first fishery boat with refrigerated sea water RSW. Technology was launched recently.
Long journey fishing vessel called ‘Sejan 04’ has been made under the IFAD loan basis project of the department of fisheries and water resources. It is expected to distribute 24 such vessels to the beneficiaries within three years after the production. At present, Bank of Ceylon has implemented this loan scheme and it is known as Diyawara Diriya. In the same way, Diyawara Saviya self-employment scheme has been started with the instructions of the minister to empower the fisher women.
In addition to that, a pension amounting to Rs.10,000/- (minimum salary) with an insurance scheme has been introduced to every fisherman.
Steps have been taken to get the fish direct from the fishermen as soon as they were brought to the land through the centres of Fishery Corporation. Under this system, Fishery Corporation takes steps to buy fish through 52 centres in 11 districts including the north and east. Through price competition, 233 CWE outlets and 60 Co-op city shops have taken steps to supply quality fish to the villages
The fish production has increased by 12% in 2011 and the fresh water fish production in the Northern Province has increased from 2% to 6% in 2010.
Steps have been taken to expand the markets for the production of fish products such as Maldive fish, dry fish, Jaadi, by encouraging the fisherwomen through Diyawara Saviya loan scheme which gives loans at a low interest. In the same way, the President has taken steps to increase the import tax of Maldive fish and dry fish for encouraging the fisherwomen who are engaged in this fish production.
Steps have been taken to provide a package of fishery gear to the fishermen who resettled in the North and Eastern Provinces while granting a loan for their empowerment. The fishing appliances for the fishermen who engage in fishing in the north and east are given at a cost of 457 lakhs. The cheques amounting to 35 lakhs have been given to 350 fisherwomen for self-employment. A modern two storeyed whole sale fish center has been established under International Fund of Agriculture and Development (IFAD) in Trincomalee and it was recently opened by the President.
Arrangements have been taken to establish a three storeyed building as a fishery office in Batticoloa with Asian Development Bank Aid – 170 lakhs and to build fishery harbours in Mannar, Sila watura and Gurunagar with 45 Euros given by Danish government. The minister has taken to establish a canned fish factory, dry fish and Maldive fish factory in this country by preventing the spending of foreign exchange of Rs.5000 million.
Arrangements have been made to issue the tax relief to the fishermen who are inconvenienced due to the increase of fuel. In this way, tax relief has been given to the owners of 30,000 fishing vessels who are registered under the department of fisheries.
(The writer (B.A.) is Media Secretary, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources)