Kochi : The National Fisheries Development Board and Agriculture Skill Council of India (ASCI) organized the second fisheries skill advisory board meeting at Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training ( CIFNET ) at Cochin to emphasize the need for skilling youth and enhancing job opportunities in the fishing sector.
Given the opportunities in the fisheries sector, the meeting focused on key aspects crucial for successful skill development in the fisheries sector such as prioritization of job roles, mobilization of resources, designing of training curriculum, selection of training partners, monitoring and course correction in skill development efforts.
India is the world’s second largest producer of fish, next only to China. Besides being a major source of revenue, fisheries sector is increasingly contributing to nutritional security of the country. With a coastline of 7,517 km, fishing is a major industry in India, employing over 14 million people.
Rani Kumudini, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board, dwelt upon on the need for enhancing the employment opportunities and uplifting the traditional fisher folk families, several of which are living below the poverty line as well as the need of alignment of all courses to NSQF.
Satender Arya, CEO, Agriculture Skill Council of India, pointed out that Skill Indian Mission would be acting as an enabler to the Blue Revolution through its scheme PMKVY.
A Ramachandran, VC, Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies, favoured extending the skilling programmes in deep sea fishing.
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