Gandhinagar: Agriculture Minister Jitubhai Vaghani on Saturday presented key announcements related to the Agriculture Department during a press conference on the state budget, outlining several new initiatives covering fisheries, storage, animal husbandry, agribusiness, and cooperative infrastructure. The minister said the measures aim to strengthen farmers’ income, boost the blue economy, improve storage capacity, and promote value addition in the agriculture sector.

The major announcements are as follows:

Promotion of deep-sea fishing for the first time in Gujarat

The state government will implement a Deep Sea Fishing Vessel Scheme to tap the vast potential of fish production in Gujarat’s maritime territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone.

Under the scheme, fishermen will be encouraged to operate beyond 12 nautical miles using safe and modern fishing methods, including targeted fishing such as hook-and-line and tuna fishing.

The unit cost of a deep-sea fishing vessel has been fixed at Rs. 1.20 crore, of which fishermen will be eligible for assistance of up to 50% of the cost or Rs. 60 lakh, whichever is lower.

A budget provision of Rs. 15 crore has been made for 2026-27 with a target of 30 vessels, which may be increased if required.

‘Mother Vessel’ scheme to be implemented for the first time in India

Gujarat will introduce a Mother Vessel Scheme in the fisheries sector, a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.

A mother vessel, also known as a carrier or factory vessel, will support groups of deep-sea fishing boats by providing facilities such as hygienic landing, sorting, pre-processing, processing, and storage of fish onboard.

The system will allow fishermen to transfer their catch directly to the mother vessel, enabling export-quality handling and higher income. The vessel will also supply fuel, food, water, and technical support to fishing boats operating far at sea, especially beyond 60 nautical miles.

The unit cost of a mother vessel has been fixed at Rs. 50 crore, with a 25% subsidy up to Rs. 12.5 crore. Fisheries cooperatives, FFPOs, and private companies will be eligible for the scheme.

Increase in assistance under Crop Storage Structure Scheme

Under the Crop Storage Structure Scheme, farmers are given assistance to construct small on-farm godowns.

Earlier, assistance of Rs. 1 lakh was available for a 300 sq. ft. structure. The limit has now been increased to 600 sq. ft., and assistance has been raised to Rs. 2 lakh.

The budget allocation for the scheme has been increased to Rs. 154 crore.

Production of 8 lakh additional sexed semen doses

The Sexed Semen Laboratory at Patan, operating under the National Gokul Mission, has so far produced 8 lakh doses, resulting in more than 31,263 heifers, with a success rate of over 90 percent.

To support cattle breeders, the government provides each dose costing Rs. 700 at a subsidised rate of Rs. 50.

Another 8 lakh doses will be produced, for which Rs. 13 crore has been allocated in the 2026-27 budget. The technology is expected to increase milk production and help reduce the problem of stray cattle.

Expansion of grain storage capacity from state to village level

In line with the Government of India’s World’s Largest Grain Storage Scheme in the Cooperative Sector, Gujarat will develop scientific storage facilities at village, taluka, and district levels.

At present, most storage capacity is concentrated in urban areas, forcing farmers to sell produce at low prices after harvest. The new scheme will utilise the state’s network of more than 10,000 agricultural credit societies, 28,000 buying-selling societies, and 23 milk unions.

New godowns will also be used by the Food Corporation of India, providing rental income to societies and reducing storage costs.

A provision of Rs. 30 crore has been made for the scheme.

Gujarat Agribusiness and Export Promotion Policy-2026

A token provision of Rs. 10 crore has been made for the proposed Gujarat Agribusiness and Export Promotion Policy-2026.

The policy aims to promote value addition, food processing, agro-industries, agri-startups, and exports, while ensuring stable prices for farmers and reducing post-harvest losses.

The proposed policy will support agri-business units, food processing industries, agri-service providers, startups, cooperative institutions, and PPP-based infrastructure projects such as food parks, irradiation centres, cargo facilities, laboratories, agricultural malls, and local markets.

Financial assistance of up to Rs. 50 crore may be provided in PPP projects where land is allotted by the state government at concessional rates. Support will also be given for incubation centres, quality testing labs, and agri-startup promotion.

The minister said these initiatives will strengthen Gujarat’s agriculture, fisheries, dairy, and cooperative sectors while increasing farmers’ income and generating new employment opportunities in rural areas. DeshGujarat