Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 12: Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, interacted with farmers before participating in a special Krishi programme held at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi.
Mr. Durai Selvam, a fisherman from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands deputed by the Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration, to attend the special Krishi programme at the National Agricultural Science Complex (NASC), Pusa, New Delhi, also had the rare opportunity to interact with the Hon’ble Prime Minister.
He was nominated by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying as one among eight fishermen selected from across the States and Union Territories of India for this special interaction. Mr. Durai Selvam, an active fisherman based at the Fish Landing Centre, Junglighat, engages in mechanised fishing operations targeting large pelagic and demersal resources. His sustained efforts, along with those of his fellow fishermen, have significantly contributed to the increase in fish production in the Islands, meeting local consumption needs and enhancing the quantity of fish transported to mainland India.
During the interaction, Mr. Durai Selvam expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the continued support extended to fishermen under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which has enabled the establishment of cold chain infrastructure and hygienic fish transport facilities.
The Prime Minister advised him to focus on harvesting tuna and tuna-like species from the Andaman waters, noting that this could become a potential game-changer for the Islands’ seafood export industry.
