FAO in India

India’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors critical for its nutrition security: FAO ADG

20/11/2024

Professor Manuel Barange, Assistant Director-General and Director, Fisheries and Aquaculture Division of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is in New Delhi to participate in the World Fisheries Day event hosted by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India (GoI) on 21 November 2024. As a leadup to this important event, FAO organized a presentation cum discussion session on ‘Opportunites and Challenges for India’s Fisheries and Aquaculture with Global Trends in the Context of Climate Change and Food and Nutrition Security’ on 20 November 2024 in New Delhi. The objective of the session was to present the current challenges and opportunities faced by the fisheries and aquaculture sector in India and facilitate a discourse with relevant stakeholders to leverage India’s potential in the mentioned sectors.

The session was led by Professor Manuel Barange and was attended by representatives from the government including Mr K Mohammed Koya, Fisheries Development Commissioner, Department of Fisheries, GoI, and more than 30 relevant stakeholders from other UN agencies such as UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), World Bank, non-governmental organizations such as WWF India, and other private entities, along with technical program leads from FAO. 

Mr Takayuki Hagiwara, FAO Representative in India, set the context of the discussion. He highlighted, “Fishers and aquaculture are critical sectors for India. However, its potential is yet to be fully tapped in the country. We need to collaborate across sectors to bring more attention to this sector and strengthen public policy discourse”.

Prof Barange presented an overview of India’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors within the global trends emphasizing that climate change is the biggest disruptor in aquaculture in India. “India ranks as the world’s second-largest producer of aquaculture, leading in inland fisheries and ranking sixth in marine fisheries. With its vast potential, effective management of all fisheries is crucial to ensure nutrition security and equitable livelihoods across the country”, he added. Explaining the global context, he shared that globally 600 million people depend on fisheries and aquaculture for their livelihoods. Therefore, the potential of these sectors is immense.

FAO’s Blue Transformation, with a vision for creating more sustainable, productive, equitable and impactful fisheries and aquaculture sectors, was also discussed. It’s vision is to increase the contribution of aquatic foods to ending hunger and poverty and also increase the consideration of aquatic foods in agrifood system strategies. Recently, the G20 agriculture minister, in the declaration, mentioned blue transformation as a priority for the G20 country which is a welcoming and much-needed step.

The three objectives of the Blue Transformation include (i) sustainable aquaculture intensification/expansion to satisfy global demand for aquatic foods and distribute benefits equitably, (ii) effective management of all fisheries to deliver healthy stocks and secure equitable livelihoods, and (iii) upgraded value chains to ensure social, economic and environmental viability of aquatic food systems.

FAO’s Blue Transformation aligns with the Government of India’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana - a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India. The scheme aims to harness fisheries potential in a sustainable, responsible, inclusive and equitable manner, enhance fish production and productivity, modernize and strengthen the value chain - post-harvest management and quality improvement, double fishers and fish farmers’ income, enhance contribution to agriculture GVA and exports and create a robust fisheries management and regulatory framework.

Affordability of healthy diets, accessibility, FAO adaptability toolbox which includes institutional and livelihoods adaptation, and risk reduction and resilience, were also discussed with the relevant stakeholders

Fisheries and aquaculture are important sources of food, nutrition, employment and income in India. The sector provides livelihood to more than 20 million fishers and fish farmers at the primary level and twice the number along the value chain. It is the fastest-growing sector in the country. FAO will continue to offer its technical expertise and knowledge to strengthen and advance India’s aquaculture and the fishing community engaged with it.

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