More Kerosene Needed For Fisheries Sector

10 Jan 2013
Kochi

The Kerala government has demanded allotment of more kerosene to the state as it is facing acute shortage, especially in the fisheries sector which is the backbone of the coastal economy.Kerala’s fisheries sector needs at least 150,000 litre kerosene annually, but the actual allotment is below 40 per cent. Fuel expense constitutes as high as 80 per cent of the cost of fishing. The recent increase in fuel prices has made fishing an unviable economic activity, it said.

The motorization of the sector started in the early 1980s and the number of crafts using out board motors has reached 25,000 recently. All these out board motors are operated using standard kerosene oil as fuel.A country boat requires 30 litre kerosene daily and around 25,000 such boats operate in Kerala requiring 187,500 litre annually. Fishermen have to buy kerosene at much higher prices — Rs 60-70 a litre – from the grey market, while the PDS rate is Rs 14 only.

Source-http://business-standard.com/india/news/kerala-seeks-more-kerosene-for-fisheries-sector/498283/

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