The Kudumbashree is expanding its fisheries clusters to three more districts this financial year.

The clusters piloted in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode were formed to create employment opportunities in the fish farming and allied sectors for women farmers who were Kudumbashree members.

The new clusters will be set up in Kollam, Alappuzha, and Malappuram districts.

Survey under way

At present, a survey is held to identify Kudumbashree women who are involved in the fishing sector and their clusters are being formed. Those among the selected women who are keen on becoming a part of producer groups are grouped together. Each producer group will have 10 to 20 members.

At present, there are five producer groups in each of the three districts. Besides the producer groups involved in fish rearing, there are groups engaged in drying fish. The Kudumbashree now plans to form producer groups that are involved in value-addition to produce diverse and quality fish products such as pickles and snacks to fetch them a better income.

New technologies

Technology such as aquaponics and biofloc will be used to produce fish, fetching the producer groups more income.

Besides five producer groups in each of the three new districts, the Kudumbashree also plans to increase the number of groups in the districts where the clusters already exist to 10 each.

A half-day orientation for fish farmers and producer groups led by National Rural Livelihoods Mission national resource person M. Shaji was held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Malappuram, and Kozhikode recently to create awareness of fisheries-based activities, new technologies in fish farming, fish processing and better marketing, and storage. Nearly 600 participants attended the orientation.