Government Launches ‘Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge’

On January 13, 2022, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, in collaboration with Startup India, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched the “Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge.” The competition was created with the goal of giving start-ups in the country a forum to present their creative solutions in the Fisheries and Aquaculture sector.

Parshottam Rupala, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Dr. L. Murugan, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, were present at the occasion.

Points Highlighted during Event:

The event began by opening remarks from Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries). In his speech, he stressed ways to capitalize the young talent in the country for bringing in noble solutions in the fisheries sector. Dr. J. Balaji, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries) said that the unrealized potential of the fisheries sector provides varied opportunities for bringing in scalable business solutions & enhancing the benefits for the fishermen and fish farmers.

Jatinder Nath Swain, Secretary Department of Fisheries, articulated that fisheries are one of the fastest emerging sectors amongst the primary producing sectors. However, in order to realize the true potential of the fisheries sector, technological breakthroughs are needed for increasing production, productivity & efficiency of the fisheries value chain.

Minister of State, MoFAH&D highlighted that the fisheries sector plays an important role in the economic & overall development of the country. Referred to as the “sunrise sector”, the fisheries sector is poised to bring in immense potential through equitable and inclusive growth. 

The sector is recognized as a powerful engine for providing employment to about 14.5 million people and sustaining a livelihood for 28 million fishers and fishermen of the country. He urged that the young entrepreneurs of the country should thereby come forward and offer solutions to resolve on-ground challenges through technology interventions and innovative solutions.

He also highlighted that the solutions should be devised for resolving issues across the fisheries value chain for increasing aquaculture productivity from the current national average of 3 tons to 5 tons per hectare, doubling exports earnings and reducing post-harvest losses from 25% to 10%.

“Fisheries Startup Challenge” launched today by the Department of Fisheries, GoI will be live for 45 days for submission of applications on the Start-up India portal: www.startupindia.gov.in

Themes under Fisheries Start-up Grand Challenge:

The following themes have been identified for submission of problem statements under the Fisheries Start-up Grand Challenge:

• Design and develop technology/solutions for enhancing productivity so that the fishers & fish farmers can achieve better price realization

• Develop infrastructure and post-harvest management solutions that will enable fishers, fish farmers in creating value addition, value creation, and value realization ensuring minimal wastage across the fisheries value chain.

• Develop business solutions and outreach activities that will make fish and fish products easily accessible, acceptable and popular among the meat-consuming population in the country.

• Develop sustainable solutions to reduce/stop soil erosion, siltation of the water bodies, and develop eco-friendly solutions for coastal fishers.

The challenge is expected to foster start-up culture within the sector and to establish a strong foundation of the entrepreneurial model, the Department of Fisheries has earmarked funds to the tune of Rs. 3.44 Crore for the challenge.

The selected 12 winners of the challenge will be awarded a cash grant of Rs 2.00 Lakh each to 10 shortlisted start-ups for translating their ‘Idea to PoC’. In the final round, a grant of up to Rs 20.00 lakh (General category) and Rs 30.00 Lakh (SC/ST/Women) will be provided to the winners for transforming their ideas into effective pilots which would further translate into commercialization. 

At a macro level, through Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge and similar impactful activities, the Department envisages inclusive growth within the sector through collaborative and cumulative efforts from various stakeholders. Importantly, the Department aims to progressively contribute towards nation building by fulfilling the objective of making an ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

(Source: PIB)