The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying inaugurated an exhibition highlighting the best fisheries startups from across the country. The exhibition, held as part of the National Fish Farmer Day Meet 2023, serves as a platform for showcasing the exceptional work of 12 startups in the fisheries sector. The exhibition was held on 10th July, 2023.
The event witnessed the virtual inauguration of 176 fisheries projects, worth Rs. 138.13 Cr and supported under the PMMSY Scheme of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, took place. These projects have had a significant impact on approximately 15,000 beneficiaries at the grassroots level, spanning across 20 States and Union Territories.
During the event, beneficiaries from various states and Union Territories had the opportunity to share their field-level experiences and interact with the Union Minister. They highlighted their issues and expressed their appreciation for the remarkable contributions made by the PMMSY scheme and the introduction of the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) in the lives of fishermen and fish farmers. Beneficiaries who interacted with the Union Minister included representatives from Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh (non-beneficiary interaction), Jharkhand, Vishakhapatnam, Karnataka, Nagaland (non-beneficiary interaction), Arunachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Goa, and Uttarakhand.
In addition to the exhibition, the Department of Fisheries launched the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge in collaboration with the Startup India hub and DPIIT (Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade). The challenge aimed to identify, reward, and recognize startups that are making exceptional impacts in the fisheries ecosystem. A total of 121 startups submitted their applications in response to the problem statements. Following a rigorous analysis, 12 startups were selected as winners of the challenge, demonstrating their innovative solutions and potential to drive positive change in the industry.
