Srinagar: The Fisheries Department in Jammu and Kashmir has reported a significant increase in fish production over the past four years, according to recent data. The production of fish in Kashmir alone has seen a remarkable surge, witnessing a rise of 5840 tons and generating revenue of 366.12 lakhs during this period. Specifically, the production of trout has surged from 598 tons in 2019 to 1990 tons in the financial year 2022-23.
Mohammed Farooq Dar, Director Fisheries, attributed this growth to various government initiatives aimed at boosting the industry and supporting farmers in the production process. Notably, 1144 Trout Rearing Units have been established under the private sector, with 56% (611 units) established in the last four years to create employment opportunities for the youth.
Dar highlighted the introduction of land and water-efficient fish culture technologies such as Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) and Biofloc for the first time in 2020-21. In the last three years, 27 successful biofloc and 8 RAS units have been established in the private sector.
The fisheries sector in Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as a vital source of food and employment generation during the last four years. The department achieved milestones in the introduction of Trout culture, Carp culture, and modern aquaculture technologies (RAS, Biofloc, etc.) in the private sector. The growth in the sector is particularly notable after 2019, with Trout production increasing by 1392 tons.
The department implemented a comprehensive fisheries development initiative under both the UT CAPEX and the Centrally Sponsored scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) from 2020. With the modernization and strengthening of government infrastructure, the department increased the rearing space by establishing hatcheries and raceway/ponds.
The department anticipates an increase in the growth rate from the existing 3.28% to 40% over the next five years, aiming to make the UT self-sufficient in fish production. In a notable move in 2020, the department extended the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) to fishers to enhance capital and credit flow to the aquaculture sector. As of September 2023, 1171 cases have been sponsored, and 758 have been sanctioned, disbursing an amount of 7819.23 lakhs to meet the working capital requirements of fish farmers.
Additionally, Fish Feed Mills and Trout seed hatcheries have been established in the last four years as economic enterprises. The fund flow to the fisheries under the UT CAPEX (Plan) Budget has witnessed a 34% increase, contributing to the overall growth of the sector.
