In a significant step towards blue revolution in the state, Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has succeeded in increasing the area under fish farming by 1942 acres during the FY 2023-24, revealed Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian. The area has increased from 42,031 acres to 43,973 acres in one year.

Giving all the credits for this achievement to the fish farmers, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian extended his greetings to all the fish & shrimp farmers of state on the eve of National Fish Farmers’ Day. He also exhorted other farmers to adopt fish farming as Punjab Government has been making all out efforts to promote fish farming as an auxiliary occupation of the agriculture to increase their income.

He further informed that the state government has been providing quality fish seed from 16 government fish seed farms at subsidized rates to the fish farmers. “For the convenience of the shrimp farmers, services are being provided at the Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Center located at village Ena Khera in district Sri Muktsar Sahib”, he added.

The government has also been encouraging the shrimp farming in the saline affected south-western districts. The farmers are practicing shrimp farming in more than 1315 acres area, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian said.

He further stated that 40% to 60% subsidy is being provided to adopt various projects such as fish and shrimp ponds, purchase of fish transport vehicles, fish kiosks/shops, cold storage plants, fish feed mills and ornamental fish units. The Punjab Government has also provided self-employment to 450 beneficiaries by disbursing a subsidy of approximately Rs 25 crores.

Notably, the National Fish Farmers’ day is observed in memory of renowned scientists Professor Dr. Hiralal Chaudhary and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi. They brought a revolution in the field of Indian fisheries by carrying out induced breeding of carp fish for the first time in India on July 10, 1957.