India’s fisheries sector is witnessing a quiet but significant transformation driven by investments in post-harvest infrastructure, digital governance, and climate-resilient coastal development. Recent data placed before Parliament highlights how targeted interventions under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) are reducing losses, improving incomes, and strengthening resilience among fishing communities.
Why Post-Harvest Infrastructure Matters
Post-harvest losses have long been a structural challenge in India’s fisheries, eroding incomes of fishers and inflating consumer prices. Infrastructure such as ice plants, cold storages, fish kiosks, and refrigerated transport plays a critical role in preserving fish quality, extending shelf life, and enabling better price realisation. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme component of PMMSY, such infrastructure is being developed in partnership with State Governments and Union Territories, with central funds released to support implementation.
Sharp Decline in Post-Harvest Losses
A recent study titled “Assessment of Post Harvest Losses in Inland and Marine Fisheries”, conducted by the National Productivity Council, shows a marked improvement:
- Inland fisheries losses declined from 18% in 2019–20 to 8.84% in 2023–24.
- Marine fisheries losses reduced from 21% to 9.3% over the same period.
- The overall national average post-harvest loss in fisheries stood at 9.16% in 2023–24.
These figures suggest that investments in cold chains, transport, and market infrastructure are translating into tangible efficiency gains.
Scale of Infrastructure Support Under PMMSY
Between 2020–21 and 2024–25, PMMSY approved a large volume of post-harvest and logistics assets. This includes over 700 ice plants and cold storages, more than 27,000 fish transportation units, thousands of fish kiosks, and the development of retail and wholesale fish markets. Such scale reflects an attempt to build an end-to-end fisheries value chain rather than focusing only on production.
Digital Data and Evidence-Based Fisheries Governance
The National Marine Fisheries Census has generated high-resolution, geo-tagged digital data at household and infrastructure levels. This granular database supports:
- Targeted delivery of fisheries schemes.
- Identification of vulnerable fishing communities.
- Assessment of infrastructure gaps such as harbours, markets, and cold chains.
- Climate-resilient livelihood planning and sustainability monitoring.
The shift to digital workflows improves transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in fisheries administration.
Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages
Recognising the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate change, the Department of Fisheries has launched a programme to convert 100 Coastal Fishermen Villages into Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFVs) under PMMSY. Implemented with 100% central funding through the National Fisheries Development Board, the initiative aims to make coastal villages economically vibrant and climate-adaptive. So far, proposals for 95 villages have been approved at a cost of ₹190 crore, with ₹47.5 crore released. Activities include alternative livelihoods such as open sea cage culture, seaweed farming, and bivalve cultivation.
State-Level Implementation and Regional Spread
States play a central role in beneficiary identification and execution. For instance, Karnataka has utilised PMMSY support for ice plants, cold storages, harbour modernisation, and insulated transport in Dakshina Kannada district. Odisha has received approvals worth over ₹1,298 crore covering fishing harbours, cold storages, livelihood support to 68,000 fisher families, and insurance coverage for millions of fishers over multiple years.
Broader Implications for Fisheries and Food Security
Reduced post-harvest losses mean higher effective production without increasing fishing pressure, which is crucial for sustainability. Improved infrastructure strengthens export competitiveness, stabilises prices, and enhances nutritional security. Climate-resilient villages and digital governance together point towards a more adaptive, data-driven fisheries sector aligned with long-term environmental and livelihood goals.
What to Note for Prelims?
- PMMSY supports post-harvest infrastructure like ice plants, cold storages, and fish kiosks.
- Post-harvest losses reduced to about 9% nationally by 2023–24.
- National Marine Fisheries Census uses geo-tagged digital data.
- Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages have 100% central funding.
What to Note for Mains?
- Link between post-harvest infrastructure and income security of fishers.
- Role of digital data in evidence-based fisheries governance.
- Importance of climate-resilient livelihood strategies for coastal communities.
- Challenges in last-mile implementation and inter-State capacity under PMMSY.
