Jammu: Minister for Animal Husbandry, Sheep Husbandry and Fisheries, Abdul Ghani Kohli Wednesday visited the Fisheries Marketing Division, Narwal and inspected its functioning.
The Minister was accompanied by Director Fisheries, R. N. Pandita, Joint Director Fisheries (Territorial), Jammu and Joint Director Fisheries (Projects), Jammu.
On the occasion, the Minister said fisheries sector occupies a very important place in the socio- economic development of the state. It has been recognized as a powerful income and employment source of cheap and nutritious food, he said.
He said the department of Fisheries has established Fish Market with all the modern facilities to provide different varieties of fish to consumers under one roof. The department has installed an Ice plant with 10 ton capacity by incurring Rs. 62.50 lacs.
Earlier, Director Fisheries R. N. Pandita briefed the Minister about the ongoing works being taken in the Market and also informed that the Department is going to allot 8 shops to wholesalers and 40 Retail counters to the interested persons very shortly.
The Director Fisheries informed that at present the Fish Marketing in the State is un-organized and mostly the vendors sell the fish in unhygienic conditions without cold chain facility. With the opening of this Market with Ice plant facility the fish sellers can keep the fish for long time to enhance its shelf life.
