An allocation of Tk 1,062.66 crore was proposed in the new budget for development and non-development programmes for the ministry of fisheries and livestock for fiscal year 2013-14, which is about Tk 112.93 crore more than the figure for outgoing fiscal.
Finance minister AMA Muhith said the contribution of fisheries and livestock sub-sectors to the GDP is about 7 to 8 per cent, which is about 35 to 40 per cent of total revenue received from agriculture.
In addition, these two sub-sectors contribute to poverty reduction by creating employment and meeting people’s demand for animal protein through increase of fish, meat, milk and egg production, he said.
The government expects that total fish production would increase to 33.90 lakh metric tonnes in this fiscal year which will continue in future as well, said the minister.
Moreover, the government’s continuous efforts to identify fresh fishing areas in the newly delimitated maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal will significantly increase fish production, he said.
-With New Age input
