Traditional fisheries sector in the country is gradually moving towards the path of innovation and entrepreneurship. Latest to join the initiative is the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) which is setting up a dedicated business incubators costing `3.23 crore in Haryana’s Gurugram to provide mentoring as well as grants for such ventures in the sector.
On November 16, the LINAC- NCDC Fisheries Business Incubation Centre (LlFlC) that aims to encourage entrepreneurial initiatives among entrepreneurs providing them handholding to move towards ‘atmanirbharta’ will be unveiled by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala..
The NCDC is the end implementation agency for Cooperatives for setting up such centres among others under the central flagship Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
“More such Centres will be formed soon across the country as envisaged under the PMMSY, launched last year with an aim to bring about the Blue Revolution, as envisioned by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi through sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector in India,” said Rupala.
Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr L Murugan added that India was working to emerge as a prominent place in the world fisheries map by nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship and invention in the sector.
“The incubation center aims to accelerate innovation and start-ups.”
According to Sundeep Nayak, MD, NCDC, “this unique Centre at the LINAC premises in Gurugram shall primarily focus on converting entrepreneurial ideas into business models and then support the launch of business operations. LIFIC shall also handhold the enterprises while negotiating a myriad of market dynamics with the aim of resulting in sustainable revenue generation and business operations in the sector.”
To begin with, the NCDC has identified the first batch of ten incubates for LIFIC from four States. Out of them, 6 are from newly created Fish Farmers Producer Organizations with the support of the financial giant under the PMMSY.
The fisheries incubation centres (FICs) under the PMMSY allow for relevant incubation support to young professionals/entrepreneurs, cooperatives/federations, progressive fish farmers, fisheries based industries and other entities, for the purpose to showcase and commercialize their innovations and innovative ideas”, informed Jatindra Swain, Union Fisheries Secretary.