In Islamabad, Pakistan, the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research has this week recommended to the government that duties are abolished on the import of fish feed, in order to exploit the true potential of the sector for the benefit of the country.

The Committee also recommended that training institutions be established in every district, to promote aquaculture and alleviate poverty, especially in rural areas.

A further suggestion was the introduction of more innovative ways of fish farming that would reduce input costs, as well as enhancing farm productivity and profit maximization.

Committee Member Captain Muhammad Safdar called for the introduction of a scheme to provide small loans to help with the establishment of fish farms in the Northern area of the country.

He also suggested the setting up of workshops across the four provinces and the establishment of model fisheries farms.

Briefing the Committee, Secretary MinNFS&R, Seerat Asghar, spoke of the need to create links between the agri-sector and exports, to make the sector profit oriented and ensure that farmers receive a proper return for the products.

Currently,1,300 young people have been trained to establish trout cage farms in Gilgit Baltistan.

Source: The Nation