Fisherwomen urged to tap government opportunities at national conclave

Speakers at a national conclave here have called upon fisherwomen to come forward and make use of opportunities offered through government initiatives and fisheries programmes.

Women are the backbone of the fisheries and aquaculture sector, contributing significantly across the value chain, particularly in processing, value addition and marketing. However, their work remains largely undervalued and underrepresented, said B. Meenakumari, former Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR.

“Empowering fisherwomen requires greater access to formal recognition, credit, technology, training, social security and decision-making platforms,” she said while inaugurating the two-day conclave on ‘Empowering Women in India’s Blue Economy: Recognition, Inclusion and Partnering’ at the ICAR–Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT), Kochi.

Women should be recognised not merely as beneficiaries, but as entrepreneurs, innovators and climate ambassadors who can play a key role in building a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable blue economy, Ms. Meenakumari said.

Around 60 women from Kerala, Lakshadweep, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are attending the conclave.

The participants represent a wide range of fisheries-related occupations, including gleaning, fish processing, value addition, seaweed farming, trout farming, dry fish vending, processing and marketing, and fish culture. Their participation reflects the diverse roles played by women across the fisheries value chain in different regions of the country.

The programme includes hands-on sessions on digital and financial literacy, occupational health and safety, climate education and disaster preparedness.

The International Year of the Woman Farmer provides a timely context for recognising the contribution of women to agri-food systems. Since fisheries and aquaculture form an integral part of these systems, the conclave provides a platform to highlight the vital role of fisherwomen in sustaining livelihoods, supporting food and nutritional security, and contributing to the Blue Economy.

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