The Government Policy Corrigendum on long-term lease of Gram Panchayat Tanks for Pisciculture promulgated in 2018 delivers significant outcomes in Odisha, India
Published on: April 22, 2022, Submitted by Megi Cullhaj on: April 18, 2022, Reporting year: 2021
Sustainable Development Goals Contribution
The application of the policy over three years demonstrated excellent results in improving the livelihoods of over 60,000 Women Self-Help Groups and their families.
Happy women from Jay Hanuman Women self-help group cherishing with their freshly caught fish Location: Nuagaon Gram Panchayat, Balesore district, Odisha, India Photo credits: Detour Odisha
Odisha Province of India is a fish deficit province. About 34% of the children below 5 are malnourished in the province. However, the province has about 65,000 village public water bodies called as "Gram Panchayat Tanks" (GP tanks) spread over 50,000 Ha which are underutilised. Also, there are about 60,00 Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) under the purview of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti (WCD & MS) in the province which are involved in various economic and entrepreneurial activities.
In order to increase the fish production, reduce the malnutrition and increase the income of women in the province, the PR&DW Department in consultation with FARD and WorldFish formulated a policy corrigendum on 29 June 2018 for long-term leasing (3-5 years) of these tanks to local WSHGs for fish production. A convergence scheme was prepared and rolled-out under the for promotion of scientific fish farming in GP tanks by WSHGs. Financial and technical support is provided to WSHGs under this program through Odisha-WorldFish project, technical staff of FARD and field coordinators of WCD & MS.
After 3 years of implementation, significant progress has been made integrating women in aquaculture throughout the entire value chain, reaching 60,000 WSHG beneficiaries.
Disaggregates for Sphere of Influence
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1.3.2 - Increased livelihood opportunities
Focus
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Capacity Development & Knowledge Sharing: 1 - Significant objective
Specific Disaggregates for this Policy Indicator
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Policy/Investment Type: Policy or Strategy
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Whose policy is fixed? Funder, Public Sector
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Stage of Maturity: Stage 3 - Evidence of impact on people and/or natural environment of the changed policy or investment
Linked Outcome/Impact Case Report (OICR)
Acknowledgement
This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) led by WorldFish. Funding support for this work was provided by the FARD department and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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