Muktsar District: The Punjab Government has taken a significant step towards promoting shrimp farming on unused saline-affected waterlogged land, aiming to expand the cultivated area to 5,000 acres within the next five years. A State-Level Shrimp Farming Seminar was organized at the Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Centre in Ena Khera village of Muktsar district to address this objective.
Jasvir Singh, Director and Warden of the Department of Fisheries, highlighted the success of shrimp farming in Punjab, stating that in the 2022-23 period, 366 farmers cultivated shrimp in approximately 1,212 acres, resulting in a total production of about 2,400 tonnes of shrimp. The practice, implemented on saline-affected waterlogged land, has proven effective in increasing farmers’ income.
Singh emphasized that shrimp and fish farmers were previously earning up to Rs 3 lakh from one acre. However, due to increased international shrimp production, rates have fallen. Recognizing the importance of developing a local market to sell shrimps, Singh mentioned the government’s special attention to this sector. A strategy has been devised to bring 5,000 acres in the border districts under shrimp farming within the next five years.
In pursuit of this target and to understand the challenges in promoting shrimp farming, the Department of Fisheries organized the one-day seminar, which saw the participation of more than 350 farmers and traders. The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to the growth of shrimp farming as a lucrative venture for farmers in the region.