Swapan Debnath, state minister for animal resources development said the state government is likely to become self-sufficient in the poultry sector by 2024 end, due to the special incentive scheme for setup of new commercial layer poultry farms.

He was addressing a seminar titled Livestock- A Big Potential For Employment And Income Generation organized by the Merchant Chamber of Commerce and Industries at a star hotel in central Kolkata this afternoon.

Mr Debnath said Bengal had exported meat to Qatar during the Football World Cup. In India, West Bengal is the second highest producer of meat after Uttar Pradesh with 11.9 per cent growth rate. He further added that milk production is growing 8.65 per cent in West Bengal. He informed that the department has established a parent breeding farm of broilers in Jalpaiguri. To encourage this sector, the state government has introduced two measures such as reduction in land registration and incentive in electricity.

Mr Biplab Roy Chowdhury, state fisheries minister, said that the department has recently trained 40,000 youth in fisheries.

While speaking on challenges in fisheries, Mr Roy Chowdhury suggested that fishing should be done scientifically and the department is providing continuous training to the fishermen.

While urging youth to enter the fisheries business, he said that fisheries is not a glamorous business but provides a good livelihood.

He informed that the department has already set up a laboratory at Junput in East Midnapore for research and breeding in fisheries. The laboratory has the capability to test soil and water for suitability. He further added that floating food which does not sink to the bottom is being given to fish.

Namit Bajoria president, MCCI highlighted that Bengal is renowned for its fisheries activities, this is renamed as a ‘Sunrise Sector’, the state produced 20.45 lakh tonnes of fish and 27 billion fish seeds during 2022-23. In addition, the state exported 1.17 lakh tonnes of fish (mostly frozen shrimp) worth more than Rs 5,000 crore. Additionally, poultry, goat, and sheep farming are significant contributors to the state’s economy.