Promotion Of Salt Water Aquaculture: Promotion of Salt Water Aquaculture in North India, New Possibilities of Employment, Livelihood and Export

Promotion Of Salt Water Aquaculture: The Department of Fisheries (DOF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has taken a significant initiative to promote salt water aquaculture in North Indian states like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This initiative is not only a concrete step towards the effective use of regional resources, but will also create new avenues of employment and livelihood.

The Government of India is working to promote salt water aquaculture in North India. In particular, the Department of Fisheries (DOF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, has taken an important initiative to promote salt water aquaculture in North Indian states like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. This initiative is not only a concrete step towards the effective use of regional resources, but it will also create new avenues of employment and livelihood.

Review Meeting And Main Objectives

Recently, Union Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi chaired a review meeting at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, in which the progress, prospects and challenges of salt water shrimp fisheries in these four states were discussed. The main objective of this meeting was to utilize the potential of inland saline land resources and convert it into a means of livelihood.

Dr. Likhi directly interacted with the farmers of the states and understood their ground level problems. He also visited the fisheries laboratories and ornamental fisheries unit of CIFE.

State-Wise Progress And Prospects

Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has shown potential for inland brackish water aquaculture in 1.37 lakh hectare area in districts like Mathura, Agra, Hathras and Rae Bareli. Several important initiatives are underway here under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

Rajasthan

Shrimp farming is gaining momentum in salt-affected districts of Rajasthan like Churu and Sriganganagar. The state has taken up farming of Penaeus vannamei (shrimp), milkfish and pearl spot in about 500 hectares. A diagnostic lab has been set up in Churu district which is a major step.

Punjab

Shrimp farming has gained momentum in the south-western districts of Punjab – Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka. The state has strengthened the sector by setting up a 30 tonne capacity cold storage, ice plant and a training centre.

Haryana

Haryana has made remarkable progress by producing 13,914 tonnes with an investment of ₹57.09 crore. ICAR-CIFE has shared technical support and best practices in the state which has increased the quality and sustainability of production.

Status Of Regional Resources

These four states have about 58,000 hectares of brackish water affected land, but only 2,608 hectares of area is currently being used. This simply means that about 95% of the resources are not yet being properly utilized. This land is not suitable for conventional agriculture, but there is immense potential to convert it into aquaculture hubs to turn it into “barren gold”.

India is already the second largest shrimp producer in the world and 65% of its seafood export value comes from shrimp alone. Despite this, brackish water aquaculture is very underutilized, especially in North India.

Main Challenges

During the meeting, the farmers put forward the following major problems:

-Only 2 hectares limit for brackish water aquaculture, which is insufficient for development on commercial scale.

-High establishment cost and subsidy limitations.

-High land lease rates and problems of salinity fluctuations.

-Lack of high quality seeds and local availability.

-Lack of marketing infrastructure (cold storage, processing units etc.).

-Increase in input cost and non-availability of fair price in the market. 

States’ Proposals And Solutions

The states have made the following major demands to the Centre to address these problems:

1.Increase the area limit from 2 hectares to 5 hectares.

2.Increase the unit cost to ₹25 lakh.

3.More subsidy on facilities like polyethylene lining.

4.Establish an integrated aqua park at Sirsa (Haryana).

5.Strengthen marketing channels and value chain.

Need For A National Committee And Collaborative Strategy

The meeting stressed the need to form a national-level committee to review the guidelines for brackish water aquaculture and prepare a clear roadmap for North India. The states were urged to prepare beneficiary-oriented action plans and share their problems with the Central Government so that targeted assistance can be provided.

Technical Support And Awareness Campaigns

Identification of new areas, training of farmers and increasing research activities with the help of ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) were also emphasized. Also, strategies will be formulated towards promoting shrimp consumption in North India and development of potential clusters.