Centre plans ₹100-crore aqua park to boost cold-water fisheries in J&K
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during the virtual inauguration of 50,000 litres per day Ultra High Temperature (UHT) Milk Plant set up at Satwari, Jammu | PTI
In a major step to improve fish farming and support rural jobs in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre is considering a ₹100-crore plan to set up an Integrated Aqua Park under Phase-II of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
This was announced by Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) at an event held at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology(SKUAST) in Srinagar. He said the park will promote cold-water aquaculture, help farmers connect to markets, and provide strong infrastructure.
The minister was joined by J&K Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, Animal Husbandry Secretary Alka Upadhyaya, and officials from the central and UT governments. Progressive farmers from across Kashmir also attended.
Singh said the Centre is focused on improving rural incomes by supporting small livestock and fisheries businesses. A detailed plan is being prepared in partnership with the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) to help farmers get better access to markets.
He said the huge growth in the fisheries sector in the Union Territory. Fish production increased from 20,000 metric tons (MT) in 2013–14 to 29,000 MT in 2024–25. Trout production rose from 262 MT to 2,380 MT—an 80 per cent jump. Trout seed production also grew from 9 million to 15.2 million, while carp seed production went up from 40 million to 63.5 million.
To improve seed quality, India imported 13.4 lakh eyed ova of Rainbow and Brown Trout from Denmark. More than ₹120 crore in private investment in cold-water fisheries has been supported through the FIDF scheme. Anantnag has already been made a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster, with Kulgam and Shopian as partner districts.
Earlier, the minister and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting and virtually inaugurated a 50,000-litre-per-day milk processing plant in Jammu.
Singh said the proposed Aqua Park is an important step to bring sustainable growth and jobs to rural J&K.
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