Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, visited Fatehgarh Sahib District, Punjab today and interacted with fish farmers and fisheries entrepreneurs to understand their issues and challenges, particularly in Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and shrimp farming. During the visit to modern RAS facilities at Dalutpur Village, Bassi Pathana, in Fatehgarh Sahib District, Dr. Likhi reviewed ongoing fisheries projects and activities being implemented under various central schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He was briefed on innovative practices adopted by local farmers that have successfully transformed waste land into productive aquaculture hubs, generating employment and livelihood opportunities in the region. Around 35–40 progressive fish farmers participated in the interaction, sharing their experiences and insights.  During the visit Dr. Likhi emphasized upon the importance of technology-driven fish farming, capacity building of farmers, and diversification of species to improve income generation and strengthen rural livelihoods. He reiterated the Central Government’s commitment to supporting modern aquaculture practices through infrastructure development, innovation, and capacity enhancement under flagship fisheries programs. This visit also underscored the Government’s prioritization of saline water aquaculture in states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. These regions, often affected by saline intrusion from agricultural fields, present unique opportunities for land-use optimization through aquaculture.

 

 

Background –

The potential of India’s inland water resources remains vast and largely untapped. With 1.95 lakh kilometers of rivers and canals, 6.06 lakh hectares of brackish water, 3.65 lakh hectares of beels and oxbow lakes, 27.56 lakh hectares of tanks and ponds, and 31.53 lakh hectares of reservoirs, the scope for sustainable inland fisheries development is immense. Recognizing this, the Government of India has placed inland fisheries at the heart of its strategic vision for the sector. India’s inland fisheries sector has emerged as a cornerstone of national fish production, contributing 75% to the total production. The sector encompasses a wide range of activities including cold water fisheries and species diversification by including species such as tilapia and pangasius. In the fiscal year 2024–25, inland fish production stood at 139.07 lakh metric tonnes. Between 2013–14 and 2024–25, inland fisheries production surged by 142%, rising from 61 lakh tonnes to 147.37 lakh tonnes. This expansion has propelled India’s overall National fish production to 195 lakh tonnes, marking a 104% increase over the same period. Under PMMSY, ₹3,300 crore has been invested nationwide in “Technology Infusion and Adoption,” for harnessing inland fisheries & aquaculture potential resulting in the establishment of 12,000 RAS units, 4,000 Biofloc systems, 59,000 cages, and 561 hectares of pens. These interventions have elevated the national average aquaculture productivity to 4.77 metric tonnes per hectare.

Punjab has demonstrated significant progress under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), attracting an investment of ₹187 crores, including a central allocation of ₹72 crores. The fish production target for the state is 2.21 lakh tonnes, with actual production reaching 1.84 lakh tonnes in 2023–24.  In Punjab, modern aquaculture practices have added nearly ₹500 crores to farmers’ incomes over the past five years, with fish production increasing by over 35,000 tonnes since 2020–21 . In order to make productive utilization of wastelands for the states of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, for FY 2024–25, saline water aquaculture project proposals covering 263.80 hectares have been approved with a budgetary allocation of ₹36.93 crore, exceeding the initial target of 200 hectares. The approval and notification of saline water aquaculture clusters in Muktsar Sahib, Punjab, and Sirsa district, Haryana, mark significant milestones in this direction. The Department of Fisheries, GoI has also notified for development of Saline water cluster in Sirsa District in Haryana, Muktsar Sahib District in Punjab & Churu District of Rajasthan.

***************

PS/SJ

(Release ID: 2179869) Visitor Counter : 103