Fisheries Department

BRIEF NOTE ON FISHERIES DEPARTMENTAL ACTIVITIES OF CHITTOOR DISTRICT

1. INTRODUCTION:

The Chittoor district consists 66 Mandals with a geographical area of 15.152 square K.M.  There are 684 departmental tanks and 6 Reservoirs with water spread area of 36,496.02 Ha in the district for its disposal of fishery rights by the Fisheries Department besides 7375 minor irrigation tanks under the control District Panchayat Officer, Chittoor. There are small rivers which are flowing in the district namely (1) Papagni (2) Pincha (3 )Kowndinya (4) Palar (5)Arani (6) Swarnamukhi (7) Bahuda and (8) Kalyani.  The average rainfall of the district is 900 M.M. per annum.  Mainly the rainfall is south-west monsoons during the months of June to September and also North East monsoon from October to December in the district. The nature of the soil is 55% Red-soil, 35% Sand soil, and 10% black cotton soil in the district. The Fishermen population in the district is about 17750 Members.

There are 7 (seven) fish seed farms under the administrative control of Deputy Director of Fisheries, Chittoor.  The Fisheries Development Officers are in-charge of Fish Seed Farms.  The main functioning of the Department in the district is for rearing of fish seedlings of Major Carps and production of seedlings Common Carp for stocking into the water bodies in the district.

The details of the fish seed farms are given below:-

1. Fish Seed Farm, Araniyar (Pitchatur)
2. Fish Seed Farm, Bahuda (Nimmanapalli)
3. Fish Seed Farm, Kalyanidam (Chandragiri)
4. Fish Seed Farm, Krishnapuram (K.Nagaram)
5. Fish Seed Farm, Tirupati
6. Fish Seed Farm, Pileru
7. Fish Seed Farm, Palamaneru

II.FISHERIES ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT:-

The main activities of the department are as follows:

1. Fish Seed rearing & stocking of seed in the water bodies
2. Leasing of Fishery wealth in Minor Irrigation tanks
3. Implementation of Licenses schemes in selected reservoirs
4. Implementation of welfare schemes.

III.FISH SEED REARING FOR 2018-19 & 2019-20:-

Target of 268 lakhs of M.C Spawn rearing was fixed by the Commissioner of Fisheries, Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada and achieved 248.00 lakhs of spawn and 124.00 lakhs Fry and 45.00 lakhs of Fingerlings for the year 2018-19.

1. LEASING OF FISHERY WEALTH OF TANKS/ RESERVOIRS:-

There are 684 tanks and 6 reservoirs under the control of Fisheries Department for taking of Fish culture and the disposal of fishery wealth in the tanks in favour of Fishermen Cooperative Society, Grama Panchayat and other respectively as per the G.O.Ms.No.776 F&A Fish –II Department, dt. 31-12-1990. The Govt. orders for assessment of rentals and grant of fishery rights of MI Tanks & reservoirs for fasli 1428 have not been received.

For the fasli 1429 i.e., 01.07.2019 to 30.06.2020 have started for leasing of fishery rights, action is being taken to lease out the water received water sources as per Govt. orders inforce.

V.LICENSING SCHEME IN RESERVOIRS:-

During the year 2018-19 the Commissioner of Fisheries, A.P., Vijayawada has fixed the target of 350 licenses to Araniyar Reservoir, Out of which, 300 licenses have been issued and realized an amount of Rs. 63,000/- for fasli 1428. Action is being taken to achieve the licenses target in the district.

VI.FISHERMEN CO-OP SOCIETIES:-

There are 46 Primary Fishermen Co-op Societies and (1) District Fishermen Cooperative Society functioning in the district with total membership of 2456 functioning at Chittoor in addition to that, there are 13 Fisherwomen Co-op Societies are existing with 327 members @ 10 Fisherwomen members of the each society formed as Matsya Mitra Groups (MMG). The Matsya Mitra Groups are actively participating for selling of fresh fish and dry fish in the district. 15 Matsya Mitra Groups are available in the district and 1.00 lakh as providing for each group as revolving fund.