Mangaluru: Karnataka Fisheries Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary has appealed to the fishing industry to use indigenous boats, machinery and engines.
He was speaking at a special meeting in Bengaluru on Friday with representatives of local companies, startups and other senior officials in the manufacturing of fishing boats and parts.
“About 90 per cent of the boats, machinery and engines presently used in the fishing industry are foreign and mostly Chinese-made. These boats are expensive and their spare parts are also very difficult to find,” Poojary said.
“These factors have necessitated indigenous manufacturing of machinery and engine,” he added.
Speaking to Udayavani later the minister said, “Representative of the fishing industry from Kundapur, Malpe, Uttara Kannada district, Mangaluru, domestic boat and spare parts manufacturing companies and senior government officials participated in the meeting. The companies were also advised to use home-made machinery in the manufacturing processes. We informed that fishermen are willing to buy their products if the quality and price are appropriate. Additionally, we also suggested to the manufacturers that, for fishing boats, gas engine rather than diesel engines would be better.”
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