January 13, 2012

In order to promote fish farming among private sector, the Punjab government is offering attractive incentives and a package worth PKR2 billion (US$22.2 million) has been allocated.

Fish farmers would be given loans at 2% mark up rate for establishing hatcheries, fisheries department sources told on Wednesday (Jan 11).

They said with increasing population, fish consumption has raised manifold and to meet the future needs special emphasis is on enhanced fish production at mass level.

Replying to a question, sources said there are 7,500 privately run fish farms across the province. Spread over 43,300 acres of land, these farms are producing 44,300 tonnes per 1,000 acre fish annually.

Sources said research work on developing new species of fish is also being carried out at government level. Fish information centres have already been set up by the Fisheries department. These centres are providing free of cost technical assistance, clay and water analysis, besides arranging training courses for fish farmers.