The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, stated that the Government is leveraging technology and digital platforms to strengthen the livestock and fisheries sectors and improve access to services for farmers, fishers and other stakeholders.

As on date number of livestock registered under the 12-digit unique identification system, ‘Pashu Aadhaar’, on the Bharat Pashudhan Portal is 39.23 crore.

As on date, 35.85 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other stakeholders have been registered on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP). The details of how the NFDP facilitates access to credit and insurance for registered stakeholders are provided.

There is no provision for processing of KCC application to be taken up under these digital ecosystems i.e. ‘Bharat Pashudhan’ for Animal Husbandry and NFDP for Fisheries. KCC application are processed and approved by banks through their core banking software systems.

The Government has launched Bharat Pashudhan, a technology-enabled, farmer-centric digital ecosystem that assigns every registered livestock animal a unique 12-digit barcoded ear tag for tracking breeding, health, ownership, and productivity-related information. Through mobile and web applications used across all States and UTs, field workers record activities such as animal registration, artificial insemination, vaccination, disease reporting, e-prescriptions, ration balancing, and milk recording. As on date, 17.27 crore artificial inseminations have been recorded under the Nationwide Artificial Insemination Programme (NAIP), covering 10.51 crore animals and benefiting 5.98 crore farmers. The platform also stores milk productivity data from genetic improvement programmes to support the selection of high genetic merit bovines. In addition, the 1962 Mobile App enables farmers to access authenticated livestock information and services using the same unique animal ID.

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing a new Central Sector Sub-scheme namely the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) under the ongoing Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for a period of four years from FY 2023-24 to FY 2026-27 at an estimated outlay of ₹6,000 crore.

The National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) under PM-MKSSY was launched on 11.09.2024. The NFDP aims at formalization of the Indian fisheries and aquaculture sector through creation of work-based digital identity and the database for all stakeholders in fisheries sector. It also serves as 'one-stop' solution for access to institutional credit, strengthening of fisheries co-operatives, incentivizing aquiculture insurance, performance-based incentives, fisheries' traceability systems and training and capacity building. As on date, 35.85 lakh fishers, fish farmers, fish vendors and other stakeholders have been registered on NFDP.

For facilitating easy access to benefit available under PMMKSSY including financial and technical support, the entire process of application by the intended beneficiaries has been made available online.

The PM-MKSSY under its component 1-A provides for enhancing access institutional credit to the fishers, fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors, micro & small enterprises etc. Under NFDP, 12 nationalised banks have been on boarded. The lead applications received under NFDP is forwarded to banks. The bank takes further necessary action as per the laid down procedure. The financial assistance upto ₹5,000 is provided to the eligible beneficiary for successful loans.

Besides, the PM-MKSSY under its component 1-B also provides for one time incentive for purchase of aquaculture insurance by farmers. The one time incentive for aquaculture insurance is provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid with a ceiling up to ₹25,000 per hectare, or ₹1 lakh per farmer for 4 hectares Water Spread Area (WSA). For the aquaculture system including intensive systems like farms, cage culture, RAS, bio-floc, and raceways etc. aquaculture insurance is provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid with a ceiling up to ₹1 lakh per farmer for 1800 m3 for intensive aquaculture systems. Further, the SC/ST and women beneficiaries get an additional 10% of incentive.

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