OVER 43K ACRES UNDER FISH FARMING, PRODUCING 1.81 LAKH TON FISH ANNUALLY, SAYS KHUDIAN
•14-CR quality fish seed produced from 16 Govt Fish Seed Farms
• Fisheries Minister felicitates progressive fish farmers during state-level Seminar
Chandigarh, March 30 (WISHAVWARTA):- Making a significant stride in fish farming, Punjab is producing a total of 1,81,188 tons of fish annually from natural waters, private, and panchayati ponds. Currently, 43,973 acres are dedicated to fish farming in the state, stated S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries.
He was addressing a state-level seminar organised by the Fisheries Department at a hotel in SAS Nagar (Mohali). The seminar aimed to educate fish farmers about new technologies, best practices, and innovative methods of fish farming. More than 300 farmers and officers participated in this seminar.
To further promote the fish farming sector, S. Khudian also shared that approximately 14 crore quality fish seed is produced at 16 government fish seed farms annually and distributed to farmers at subsidised rates.
In addition to fish farming, Punjab is also making progress in shrimp farming. Thousands of acres of land in the five southwestern districts – Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, and Fazilka – were previously unsuitable for agriculture due to water-logging and salinity. However, shrimp farming is now being practiced in these districts, providing farmers with a net profit of Rs 2.50 to Rs 4.00 lakh per acre, said S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
The Cabinet Minister also honoured two progressive fish farmers Mr. Amiteshwar Singh Gill from District Fatehgarh Sahib and Mr. Parminderjit Singh from District Kapurthala.
Director Fisheries Jasvir Singh informed that the department has disbursed more than Rs. 30 crores subsidy to 618 families in 4 years under the centrally sponsored scheme and felicitated all the district heads. He further said that under the leadership of the Minister S Khudian and guidance of the Principal Secretary, Sh. Rahul Bhandari, department is currently providing subsidy for various projects related to fisheries such as new area under fish and shrimp farming, vehicles for transporting fish products, RAS and bio-floc units, fish kiosks, mini fish feed mills, etc.
State head of Common Service Centre, Punjab Sh. Bhupinder Singh briefed the fish farmers regarding the database being prepared by the Government and made the farmers aware about the benefits of registration on National Fisheries Digital Platform. Deputy Director Sh. Gurpreet Singh and Assistant Director Fisheries Ms. Satinder Kaur apprised the farmers about the achievements of various projects under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and thanked the fish farmers for making the event a success.
