Bhubaneswar, Jan. 18: The state government today prepared a 10-year perspective plan to boost aquaculture in the state. Under the perspective plan, the state aims to take up aquaculture in 80,000 hectares of land in the next 10 years.

The state aims to enhance the production of fresh water fish from the present 2.13 lakh tonne to 7.12 lakh tonne by 2020. The state government also decided to encourage fish farming under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

As part of this programme, 15,700 ponds will be dug up in various parts of the state and 80,000 hectares of land will be taken up for theprogramme.

Beside, the government plans to take up fresh water fisheries in 100 blocks of the state.

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the state’s existing aquaculture scenario, directed officials to introduce specific plans and programmes in the fisheries and animal resources development department.

“We have decided to create 5 lakh job opportunities in the next 10 years through fisheries and animal resources development department,” said department officials.

The state government also aims to take up fish farming in the 10,000 hectares of brackish water area.

In 2010-11, 500 hectares of brackish water will be taken up for fish farming. The Chandrabhaga hatchery will be renovated at a cost of Rs 2.7 crore. As part of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZM), steps will be taken up for the improvement of livelihood of the fishermen living in the coastal belt. Around 9,000 families are expected to be benefited from the programme. All fishermen living near the seashore will also be provided with biometric national identity cards soon.

The government also plans to enhance the state’s milk production from 1.5 million tonne to 4.8 million tonne in the next ten years. Private companies will also be encouraged to take up dairy business, official sources said.