New Delhi: Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Rajiv Ranjan alias Lallan Singh said that livestock has a major contribution in the country's economic development. On completion of 100 days in the third term of the Narendra Modi government, he said on Tuesday that fish farming and aquaculture are a major source of food, nutrition, employment, income and earning foreign currency.

Social and economic security of fishermen increased

He further said that there is hope from this sector in the future as currently more than 60 thousand crore rupees of foreign currency is coming from the export of fish. This is also providing livelihood to three crore fishermen and fish farmers and in the last decade the social and economic security of fishermen has increased, due to which export has also increased.

While listing the achievements of the government in the press conference, Lallan Singh said that many programs are being run for the social and economic development of fish farmers. India has about eight percent share in global fish production. India is the second largest fish producer in the world. Soon we will be in the first place.

Shrimp exports increased the most

He said that seafood exports of Rs 30,213 crore in 2013-14 will double to Rs 60,523.89 crore in 2023-24. The highest increase has been in the export of lobster which has increased by 107 percent to Rs 40,013.54 crore compared to Rs 19,368 crore ten years ago.

The Animal Husbandry Minister said that the contribution of livestock in the gross value addition (GVA) of total agriculture and allied sector was only 24.36 percent in 2014-15, which increased to 30.22 percent in 2022-23. It is contributing 5.5 percent to the country's economy. During this period, the value of milk production increased by 125 percent, from Rs 4.96 lakh crore in 2014-15 to Rs 11.16 lakh crore in 2022-23. This is the highest in the agriculture sector.

More than 9 crore animals were artificially inseminated

He said that the government is committed to the development and conservation of indigenous breeds of cattle. Under this, artificial insemination of more than nine crore animals has been done so far.