Input Assistance to Develop Network of Fish Seed Growers for Early Bred Spawn

The scheme "Input Assistance to develop Network of Fish Seed Growers for Early Bred Spawn" was launched by the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department, Government of Odisha. It aims to increase fish fingerling availability in the state at the start of the monsoon season. Through this scheme, input support from the State Plan Scheme amounting to ₹200.00/- lakhs is provided to existing fish farmers, Women Self Help Groups, Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies, private entrepreneurs, and individuals. The scheme is implemented by the Directorate of Fisheries, Odisha, Cuttack. Fish seed rearing is taken up in 400 Acres of tanks by existing farmers, Women Self Help Groups, Primary Fishermen Cooperative Societies, and private entrepreneurs in all 30 districts of the state. In total, 24 crore fry and 3 crore fingerlings are produced and supplied to local grow-out farmers and for reservoir stocking within the same block or district. The assistance is limited to 1.00 Acre water spread area per beneficiary.

Objectives

1. To increase the fish fingerlings availability in the state during the start of the monsoon season.
2. To establish fish seed rearing in 400 Acres (160 Ha) among existing farmers, WSHGs, PFCS, and private entrepreneurs across the state.
3. To produce fry and advanced fingerlings to supply to local grow-out farmers and for reservoir stocking within the same block or district.
4. To contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in fish seed production in the state.
5. To provide income and job opportunities to at least 800 farmers and individuals in the state.

1. Total Project Cost and Government Assistance:

- Total Project Cost: ₹400.00/- Lakhs
- Government Assistance: ₹200.00/- Lakhs (Input support from State Plan Scheme)

1. Unit Cost Per Acre:

- Unit Cost per Acre: ₹1,00,000/-
- Input cost for one crop cycle of fish fingerling production (fry, feed, biosecurity bird fence net, seed harvest drag net, etc.).
- Fish seed rearing for production of fry and fingerlings from spawn (8 Lakh fry and 1 Lakh fingerling production per Acre in a 3–4 month seed rearing cycle).

1. Component-wise Cost and Subsidy Per Acre: Per Acre, the total unit cost for fish seed rearing is ₹1,00,000/-, which includes ₹30,000/- for Spawn or Fry (30 Lakh Spawn / 1.50 Lakh Fry), ₹36,000/- for 600 kg Powder/Pellet Feed, ₹16,000/- for Biosecurity Bird Fencing Net (1 lump sum), and ₹18,000/- for Seed Harvest Drag Net (1 lump sum); under this, General Category beneficiaries are eligible for 40% subsidy amounting to ₹12,000/- for spawn/fry, ₹14,400/- for feed, ₹6,400/- for biosecurity bird fencing net, and ₹7,200/- for seed harvest drag net, totaling ₹40,000/- per Acre, whereas SC/ST/Women Category beneficiaries are eligible for 60% subsidy amounting to ₹18,000/- for spawn/fry, ₹21,600/- for feed, ₹9,600/- for biosecurity bird fencing net, and ₹10,800/- for seed harvest drag net, totaling ₹60,000/- per Acre. 1. Subsidy Pattern:

- 40% subsidy assistance shall be provided to General Category beneficiaries.
- 60% subsidy assistance shall be provided to SC / ST / Women Categories of beneficiaries.
- Assistance shall be limited to 1.00 Acre water spread area per beneficiary.
- Government assistance shall be given only one time for fish seed rearing, limited to a single beneficiary.

1. Conditions Attached to Subsidy:

   1. The beneficiary shall procure the fish spawn/fry from Government / OPDC fish hatcheries or from registered private hatcheries which were supported by the Directorate for Fisheries during the year 2021-22 under State Plan, OIIPCRA, and PMMSY.
   2. The subsidy shall be released based on the actual water area of the rearing tank and proportionate spawn stocking by the fish seed grower as per the above table.
   3. OPDC will supply fish larval feed / Starter in powder form/pellet feed at a subsidised rate.
   4. Beneficiaries shall procure the biosecurity bird fencing net and seed harvest drag net from OPDC at cost basis.
   5. Beneficiaries shall submit the bills/receipts to the District Fisheries Officer for the release of subsidy after completion of one cycle of fish seed production.
   6. Subsidy shall be released after verification of the seed rearing farm and bills/receipts by the District Level Committee.
   7. No subsidy shall be released for fish larval feed/starter feed since this component is supplied directly to the beneficiary by OPDC at subsidized prices.

Disbursement of Funds:

• Subsidy shall be released by the District Fisheries Officer.
• Release shall be after completion of one crop cycle.
• Release shall be after field verification.
• Release shall be based on actual water spread area and proportionate spawn stocking.
• Release shall be after verification by the District Level Committee.
• One-time assistance will be provided and will be limited to a single beneficiary.

1. The applicant must be a resident/domicile of the state of Odisha.
2. The applicant must be individuals, fish farmers, WSHGs, or private entrepreneurs having a minimum of 0.25 Acre (0.1 Ha) tank suitable for rearing fish seed.
3. The applicant must have a minimum water spread area of 1 Acre (0.40 Ha) tank per applicant.
4. The applicant must have their own perennial tank or leased tank with a minimum 1 Acre water spread area, with a minimum of 3 year lease agreement, which is suitable for rearing fish spawn/fry to fingerling size during the early breeding period.
5. The applicant must rear fish spawn/fry to be procured and stocked by the beneficiaries during the period March to June.
6. The applicant must procure the spawn/fry from Government/OPDC fish hatcheries or from registered private hatcheries that were supported by the Directorate of Fisheries during the previous year under the State Plan, OIIPCRA, and PMMSY.
7. The applicant must not have availed any subsidy assistance through the department in any Govt agencies earlier for the fingerling rearing programme.
8. The applicant must have registered with the DFOs for accreditation and completion for private fish seed grower.
9. The applicant must possess identity and residential proof, including an Aadhaar Card.
10. The applicant must have a bank account in his/her name.

Offline

Step 1: The scheme shall be advertised through the Departmental website, newspapers, and wall posters in the District and Block Fisheries Offices across the state, and the district-wise physical and financial target for Input Assistance under the scheme will be fixed by the Directorate of Fisheries according to their potential.
Step 2: Interested fish seed growers shall apply to the concerned District Fisheries Officer (DFO) through the Assistant Fisheries Officer (AFO) in the prescribed format as specified in Annexure-I, along with a self-attested passport-size photograph, Aadhaar Card copy, bank details, including the first page of pass book, water spread area details, finance mode (bank/self-finance), and self-declaration.
Step 3: Upon receipt of the applications, the DFO will arrange within 7 days a site inspection of the fish seed farm by the concerned AFO; the AFO shall assess the suitability of the fish seed nursery/rearing pond, take geo-tagged photographs along with the beneficiary, measure the water spread area, assess spawn requirement using perforated spawn measuring cup (180 ml for 1 lakh spawn), and forward the Field Verification Report in Annexure-II format along with documents and geo-tagged photographs to the DFO within 7 days of field inspection.
Step 4: The selection of beneficiaries shall be made in a transparent manner by the DFO, and the DFO shall issue a Go-ahead letter to the selected beneficiaries to take up the rearing of fish spawn/fry.
Step 5: The beneficiary shall install the biosecurity bird fencing net around the fish seed tank and thereafter procure fish spawn/fry from Government/OPDC fish hatcheries or from registered private hatcheries supported by the Directorate of Fisheries during 2021-22 under State Plan, OIIPCRA and PMMSY; the AFO shall remain present at the time of stocking, take geo-tagged photographs and certify the stocking.
Step 6: The spawn/fry shall be reared by the fish seed grower using fish larva feed/Starter in powder form/pellet feed supplied by OPDC at subsidized prices, following Standard Operating Procedure for pre-stocking management, acclimatization, spawn assessment, and feed management as given by the Directorate of Fisheries.
Step 7: A District Level Inspection Team (DLIT) comprising District Fisheries Officer and Assistant Fisheries Officer/SFTA/JFTA In-Charge of the block shall undertake joint field inspection when the fish seed reaches fingerling stage, take geo-tagged photographs of the fish seed rearing tank with beneficiary, and verify bills/receipts; the DFO shall release subsidy to beneficiaries through DBT/RTGS/NEFT towards Spawn/Fry, Biosecurity Net and Drag Net as per eligibility within 30 days of submission of bills and receipts through AFO, and no subsidy shall be released towards Powder/Pellet Feed since it is supplied directly by OPDC at subsidized prices.
Step 8: The DFO shall maintain records on spawn stocking, inspection reports and geo-tagged photographs, develop and upload a complete digitalized database on the department website, submit Monthly Progress Report in Annexure-III format to the Directorate of Fisheries, Odisha, Cuttack, and the scheme shall be monitored by the State Level Monitoring Committee constituted at the Directorate of Fisheries; project evaluation shall be undertaken by the agency engaged by Government and audit shall be conducted by Internal Audit of Fisheries & ARD Department and Principal Accountant General (A&E), Odisha.

Note:

1. Annexure-I – Application Form: Includes applicant details, category (Gen/SC/ST/OBC), water spread area, finance mode (bank/self-finance), Aadhaar Card copy, bank details, and self-declaration signed by applicant and recommended by AFO. 1. Annexure-II – Field Verification Report: To be submitted by AFO to DFO after physical verification, certifying eligibility, water spread area, and quantity of spawn to be stocked. 1. Annexure-III – Monthly District-Level Progress Report: To be submitted by DFO to the Directorate of Fisheries containing details of applications received, verified, go-ahead letters issued, stocking completed, subsidy entitlement, and assistance disbursed.
   

1. Application Form (Annexure-I)
   1. Passport Size Photograph
   2. Aadhaar Card
   3. Bank Account Details
   4. Photograph of First Page of Bank Passbook
   5. Self-Declaration
   6. Bills/Receipts for Inputs Procured
   7. Registration with DFO for Accreditation as a Private Fish Seed Grower
   8. Tank Ownership Or Lease Document

1. Government assistance shall be given only one time for fish seed rearing, limited to a single beneficiary.