Chandigarh, July 9 — Haryana’s Fisheries Minister Shyam Singh Rana, on Tuesday said fish farming will play a pivotal role in improving India’s economy and transforming farmers’ livelihoods. He highlighted the state government’s commitment to expanding fisheries through modern infrastructure and advanced techniques.
Speaking as chief guest at a fish conservation and replenishment program organized on the occasion of National Fish Farmers Day 2025 in Ballewala village of Yamunanagar district, Rana inaugurated the event by releasing two lakh fish seedlings into Jal Sagar pond. He announced similar initiatives will b4e rolled out across other districts in Haryana in the coming days.
He shared that to promote high-yield fish varieties, the government will provide fish farmers with superior seed sourced from the National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank in Odisha, including Amrit Katla and Jayanti Rohu species. These varieties are expected to significantly boost production and farmer income compared to conventional breeds.
Highlighting recent achievements, Rana said Haryana has brought 58,293 acres under fish and shrimp farming during 2024-25, achieving a production of 2.32 lakh metric tonnes of fish and shrimp. Moreover, the state has stocked around 1.5 billion fish seedlings in ponds this year. Approximately 5,900 acres of saline-affected land have been converted for white shrimp farming.
The Minister noted that three mobile water testing laboratories will soon assist farmers in checking soil and water quality directly at their ponds. He added that abandoned mining pits will be repurposed for fish farming, with the government offering subsidies for such projects.
Rana pointed out that Haryana currently ranks second among India’s 17 landlocked states in fish production, and efforts are underway to secure the top position.
In a significant move to reduce operational costs, Rana announced that the state has increased the subsidy cap for solar power installations in shrimp farming from 10 kW to 30 kW under the Intensive Fisheries Development Program. Farmers adopting solar solutions will now be eligible for subsidies up to ₹9 lakh at a 60 percent subsidy rate.
He further revealed plans to establish an Integrated Aqua Park Centre of Excellence in village Garwa, Bhiwani district, to promote white shrimp farming in saline waters. Another centre will be set up in Sirsa district. Additionally, the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) will establish a regional centre on five acres of land at village Sultanpur in Gurugram district.
Rana concluded by emphasizing that fish farming is poised to become a game-changer for both Haryana’s economy and its farmers, helping elevate incomes and contributing to national growth.
