Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, on Wednesday, said that the state has witnessed an impressive growth in the Fisheries sector with the implementation of slew of measures to enhance fish production and aquaculture development. The state government’s Fish Seed Farms are producing over 14 crore high quality fish seed annually, which is being provided to farmers at subsidized rates.
He further informed that 16 Government Fish Seed Farms, 11 fish feed mills and seven laboratories are dedicated to the fish farmers and 14.74 crore fish seedling have been produced upto December 2024, which was 13.90 crore in 2023. The state has 43,973 acres under fish farming and 1,81,188 tonnes of fish production is being obtained from natural waters, private and panchayati ponds.
The Fisheries Minister stated that the state’s youth and women have been encouraged to adopt fisheries as an occupation and a financial benefit of 40% to 60% of a unit cost has been extended for adopting various projects. Financial assistance of around Rs. 27 crore has been granted to more than 500 beneficiaries under various projects include bringing new area under fish and shrimp farming, establishment of Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), biofloc culture system, purchase of vehicles for transport of fish and its products, fish feed mill, fish kiosk etc.
Elementary training in fish and shrimp farming is also being imparted free of cost every month. Technical assistance for pond preparation, seed stocking, fish rearing and harvesting is also being provided, he added. To bring blue revolution in the state, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that the department has adopted modern techniques and ramping up infrastructure to enhance fish production and aquaculture development within the state, aiming to boost the income of farmers.
The State infrastructure has been strengthened by the establishment of a new Govt. Fish Seed Farm at Killian Wali village in Fazilka district and a new retail fish market at Ghalauri village in Patiala district. Highlighting the potential and scope of development of the fisheries sector, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian urged the state farmers to adopt the allied sector to increase their income.
He said that 6 fish and shrimp farmers of the State felicitated by the Fisheries Department (GoI) on the eve of 76th Republic Day at New Delhi.