The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Fresh fish at your doorstep

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Fresh fish at your doorstep

J.S. Ifthekhar

Mobile vending outlets to be pressed into service from Aug. 15

NEW FACILITY: The tricycles that will be pressed into service to carry fish.

Hyderabad: Worried about the rising prices of mutton and chicken biryani? Take heart -- healthy seafood is within reach. Murrel, Ruhroh, Catla, Pomphret -- name it and you can have it.

The best part is you can get them in highly sanitised conditions and at prices quite reasonable.

The Fisheries Department is out to catch consumers hook, line and sinker. Mobile fish vending outlets are being pressed into service to bridge the wide gap between demand and supply. Come August 15 consumers in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, Guntur, Warangal, Kurnool and Karimnagar can look forward to freshwater fish right at their doorsteps.

100 kg

A large number of battery operated and manually operated tricycles carrying 100 kg fish in ice boxes and two-wheelers with 50 kg capacity will hit these cities. They will stop over at some identified points and also move around the residential colonies. Self-help groups of fisherwomen will be handed over these vehicles being manufactured by the Cynosure Enterprises Ltd.

Under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana there will be 50 per cent subsidy, 10 per cent beneficiary contribution and the rest bank loan. The environment friendly vehicle will run 80 km with just 5 hours of charging.

Vendors to gain

For the fish vendors the benefits are immense. “They can easily earn Rs. 52,000 per annum after meeting operational charges and bank loan. And the consumers get to eat quality fish which they always wanted but couldn’t for want of availability,” says Arvind Kumar, Commissioner Fisheries.

The department will have a wholesale point from where the vendors will pick up the fish.

32 points

In Hyderabad 32 points have been identified where consumers can buy this succulent seafood. At a later date the department plans to undertake home delivery of cooked fish biryani and fish fry too.

With 10.56 lakh tonnes production, Andhra Pradesh is the largest fish producing State. However, domestic consumption remains very less. One of the reasons being the unhygienic conditions under which the fish is sold which puts off customers.

Once this problem is overcome, fish consumption is expected to go up. Especially with meat and chicken becoming dearer. So, how about a mouthful of this tender delicacy?

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh