Aiming at the comprehensive development of ornamental fish farming, a pilot project worth `80 crore, with Central assistance, will be initiated in Thiruvananthapuram soon. Excise Minister K Babu said that the project will be extended to other districts depending on its success.
“It would immensely help the people who depend on ornamental fish farming for their livelihood. The project will be implemented with the cooperation of Kudumbasree,” he said. The Excise Minister was inaugurating the training session for Theeramaithri Treasurers here on Sunday.
He said that the Kerala Aqua Farmers Association Ltd (KAVIL) project which had gone awry would also be revived. As part of the project, KAVIL would be made a company. The Coastal Area Development Corporation would grant `1 crore for the project, he said.
The amount of the interest-free loan to women working in the fishing sector will be raised to `20,000 from the existing `10,000, said the minister.