Anantnag named Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster; trout production surges over 800% in a decade
Diplomat Correspondent
Srinagar, (DD)In a major push to strengthen Jammu and Kashmir’s aquaculture sector, the Union Government is considering a Rs 100 crore proposal to set up an Integrated Aqua Park under Phase-II of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The announcement was made by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, during an event at the Shalimar Convention Centre, SKUAST-Kashmir.
The proposed Aqua Park aims to become a model centre for cold-water aquaculture, focusing on infrastructure development, innovation, and employment generation. It will support hatcheries, feed mills, fish processing units, and direct market access for fish farmers, forming a complete value chain.
In a significant move, Anantnag has been officially designated as a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster, with Kulgam and Shopian identified as supporting districts. This cluster-based approach is expected to enhance productivity, promote sustainable practices, and generate rural employment.
“Over Rs 120 crore in private investment has already been mobilized under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). We are committed to developing robust infrastructure to support our fish farming communities,” said the Union Minister.
As per government figures, trout production in J&K has soared from 262 metric tonnes in 2013–14 to 2,380 MT in 2023–24, marking a remarkable growth of over 800%. In the same period, trout seed production increased from 9 million to 15.2 million, and carp seed production rose from 40 million to 63.5 million.
This transformation is attributed to flagship initiatives such as Blue Revolution, FIDF, and PMMSY, which have significantly strengthened the fisheries ecosystem in the Union Territory.
The Union Minister further disclosed that Rs 300 crore out of the Rs 852 crore allocated under PMMSY for Himalayan and Northeastern states has been earmarked for Jammu and Kashmir alone.
“Aquaculture holds huge potential for livelihood generation. We aim to empower youth and directly connect fish farmers with markets,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the Minister co-chaired a high-level review meeting with the Chief Minister at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar and virtually inaugurated a 50,000 LPD UHT Milk Processing Plant at Satwari, Jammu, marking another step towards agro-based industrial growth in the region(DD)