Centre notifies 34 cold-water fisheries clusters in Himalayan states
Centre notifies 34 cold-water fisheries clusters in Himalayan states
Pithoragarh, Oct 18
Union Secretary for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr Abhilakshya Likhi has said that the Union government has notified 34 cold-water fisheries clusters across six Himalayan states and Union Territories to promote trout farming and strengthen the livelihoods of local communities.
The initiative covers Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, where natural conditions are highly suitable for trout farming. The government is encouraging local farmers to take up rainbow trout production to boost high-value fisheries and improve livelihood opportunities and nutritional security.
“Trout farming is not only a high-value fisheries activity but also an important means of diversifying livelihoods and ensuring local nutritional security,” Dr Likhi said.
The Union Secretary was interacting with fish farmers at the Namjala trout farm in Munsiyari on Saturday. He appreciated the efforts of the farmers associated with the Namjala trout farm and the Johar Matsya Swayatta Sahkari Samiti for promoting trout production in the region.
“The glacial waters of the Gori Ganga and the highly favourable conditions for trout farming are gradually establishing Munsiyari as a trout production centre,” he said.
Dr Likhi said the Union government had invested ₹2,299 crore in developing basic infrastructure for cold-water fisheries in the Himalayan states under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The infrastructure includes raceways, hatcheries, feed mills and cold-storage facilities.
Under the scheme, more than 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 293 cold-storage facilities and 260 feed mills have been proposed to boost trout production, he added.
According to Dr Likhi, trout production has increased sixfold over the past decade and has now reached 5,000 metric tonnes.
The Union Secretary also praised the Uttarakhand government’s efforts to expand trout farming in the state, saying that ₹317 crore had been sanctioned for promoting the activity.
He particularly appreciated Uttarakhand’s initiative to export trout to Nepal in June this year, describing it as a commendable step towards expanding market opportunities for local fish farmers.
