Recent Developments in Key Sectors

In Lakshadweep, the estimated potential of marine fishery resources is about one lakh tonnes of tuna.

• In September 2021, large-scale farming of indigenous seaweeds was launched in nine inhabited islands of Lakshadweep under the guidance of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMRI). The plan is to produce 30,000 tonnes in a year, which will be worth Rs. 75 lakh (US$ 98,120).
• In June 2021, Lakshadweep started exporting tuna to Japan, via Bengaluru.

In Lakshadweep, tourism is one of the few areas that can play a vital role in generating revenue, jobs and overall island growth.

• In the Budget 2022-23, Lakshadweep was allocated Rs. 9.5 crore (US$ 1.24 million) for tourism development in the union territory.
• In August 2021, the Lakshadweep administration invited global tenders for building eco-tourism beach villas and water villas in the Kadamat, Minicoy, and Suheli islands at an estimated project cost of Rs. 813 crore (US$ 106.36 million).
• According to NITI Aayog, which has requested consultant bids, the Lakshadweep administration intends to create eco-tourism projects in public-private partnerships on 11 islands.
• In February 2021, the UT, in its proposal to the Ministry of Home Affairs, announced its plans to dedicate a tourist ship in the islands with the aim of developing cruise tourism and generate employment opportunities.
• In January 2021, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) began operations of seaplane services on select routes under a special purpose vehicle (SPV) framework, through prospective airline operators. The proposed origin-destination pairs include Lakshadweep and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The project execution and implementation would be through Sagarmala Development Company Ltd. (SDCL), which is under the administrative control of the ministry.

In the Budget 2022-23, agriculture and allied activities were allocated Rs. 19.41 crore (US$ 2.54 million).

• In February 2021, Lakshadweep and the National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC), an apex finance entity under the Union Agriculture Ministry, signed a pact to ensure all-round development of farmers and fishermen. This will help scale up farming operations of the farmers and fishermen for better access to quality input, technology, credit and market through economies of scale.
• In December 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture declared Lakshadweep as India’s first UT to cultivate 100% organic produce.

In July 2021, the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) was launched in Lakshadweep, which will help 12,320 beneficiary families. The scheme will give an annual healthcare benefit of up to Rs. 5 lakh (US$ 6,541) for every eligible family.