Tripura min seeks 90:10 PMMSY funding split for NE

Agartala: Tripura minister for animal resources development and fisheries Sudhangsu Das has urged the Centre to restructure the funding mechanism for the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to strengthen the blue economy and livestock sectors in the northeast.At a regional review meeting in Aizawl attended by Union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Das proposed changing the current cost-sharing pattern to a 90:10 ratio, arguing that the existing 60:40 Centre-State split is financially unviable for the region’s small and marginal farmers.Das called for a stronger collaborative framework and faster implementation of development programmes to unlock the fisheries and livestock potential of the northeast. He said a 90:10 funding split would ease the state-share burden and improve the inclusivity and grassroots reach of PMMSY.He also flagged operational delays in fund disbursement, saying timely releases are critical in the Northeast where the execution window for infrastructure projects is constrained, particularly during the monsoon.Das urged the ministry to adopt adaptable funding models that account for environmental disruptions, citing the region’s vulnerability to frequent flooding. He pointed to Tripura’s Mukhyamantri Matsya Vikas Yojana (MMVY), a state initiative focused on pond development and distribution of fishery resources to boost local production and reduce dependence on supplies from outside the state.On livestock, Das said the northeast is self-sufficient in meat but needs to scale up milk and egg production through targeted interventions and modern infrastructure in dairy and poultry. He also suggested expanding the National Livestock Mission to comprehensively include cattle farming to address the milk deficit and improve the genetic quality of local herds.