Centre aiming to up income of fishermen: Giriraj Singh

Bhogapuram (Vizianagaram): Union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy development Giriraj Singh said the government plans to increase the income of fish farmers and would also increase investments into the sector multifold.

The Union minister toured coastal villages in Bhogapuram mandal On Friday. He visited a shrimp industry in Boyapalem and interacted with fishermen there. Later, speaking to media, Giriraj Singh said that average shrimp production per hectare in Andhra Pradesh was three tonnes now but the Centre was planning to increase it to nine tonne.

Currently shrimp firms are required to go to Chennai for certification but now the Centre was providing those services in Andhra Pradesh itself. "As of now, our country is exporting aqua products worth Rs 47,000 crore a year and we are making efforts to increase them to Rs 1 lakh crore in future.

Investment worth Rs.25,000 crore is coming into the sector," he said. MP B Chandrasekhar, MLA B Appala Naidu and others accompanied Giriraj Singh during the tour.