Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Integrated Aqua Park at Tzudikong in Mokokchung district on Friday under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The ceremony was held through a virtual video conference and attended by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh); A. Pangjung Jamir, MLA and Advisor, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Department; Rongsennungba, Director of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; and other senior officials.
The Integrated Aqua Park at Tzudikong, with an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, marks a major milestone for Nagaland. “This project is an Integrated Fish Farming Systems for Sustainable Enhancement of fish production and develop the training and skill development to the Youth and entrepreneurs,” PIB reported. According to DIPR, it will be the first Aqua Park in the state, serving as a center for showcasing fisheries-related developmental activities.
The facility will primarily focus on fish and fish seed production and is expected to be a transformative force in Nagaland’s fisheries sector. It aims to offer a comprehensive resource center for high-quality inputs and facilitate forward market linkages to ensure fair pricing for fishery products. It will also meet the needs of local fish farmers, empowering unemployed educated youth and supporting the overall development of the fisheries sector in Nagaland.
The virtual event was attended by multiple stakeholders and beneficiaries from various districts across the state.
The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone virtually as part of a special Krishi programme held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. During the event, two major schemes in the agriculture sector were launched with a total outlay of Rs 35,440 crores. These include the PM Dhan Dhaanya Krishi Yojana and the Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses. In addition, Modi inaugurated projects worth over Rs 5,450 crores across the agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, and food processing sectors, while also laying the foundation stone for new projects valued at about Rs 815 crores. He stated that sectors such as animal husbandry, fisheries, and beekeeping are being actively promoted to provide alternative sources of income, especially for small and landless farmers.
Altogether, 16 fisheries projects worth over Rs 693 crores were announced during the programme. This includes the foundation stone for seven new projects worth Rs 572 crores and the inauguration of nine projects valued at Rs 121 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Fisheries Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). “These projects have the potential to strengthen infrastructure, create employment, boost exports, and usher in a new era for India’s Blue Economy,” a PIB report stated.