The Aryavarth Express Srinagar( Jammu and Kashmir) : The Government of India has significantly stepped up efforts to promote fisheries and aquaculture development in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir by releasing more than ₹118 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) over the past five years, the Lok Sabha was informed recently.
According to official figures tabled in Parliament, funds totaling ₹11,850.39 lakh were released to Jammu & Kashmir between the financial years 2020–21 and 2024–25. This assistance is part of the Central government’s larger scheme to overhaul the fisheries sector across the country, with a focus on improving fish production, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing livelihood opportunities for fishers and fish farmers.
Objectives and Scope of the PMMSY Support
PMMSY, a flagship initiative of the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, aims to usher in a “Blue Revolution” through comprehensive development of India’s fisheries sector. The scheme focuses on raising productivity, modernising value chains, reducing post-harvest losses, and uplifting the socio-economic conditions of fishing communities.
Under the programme in J&K, central funds have been utilized for a range of activities, including:
Expansion of inland and cold-water aquaculture, including trout farming in suitable hilly terrains.
Development of infrastructure such as ponds, hatcheries, fish transport vehicles, and cold chain facilities.
Capacity building and training to strengthen skills among local fishers.
Support to fishers and fish farmers through subsidies, inputs and targeted welfare measures.
Jammu & Kashmir’s diverse water resources — including rivers, lakes and high-altitude streams — offer unique potential for inland and cold-water fisheries. PMMSY assistance is intended to harness this potential while boosting incomes and creating new avenues for sustainable economic growth in the region.
Part of a Wider National Push
The release to J&K is a part of a much broader programme under PMMSY, which has approved fisheries and aquaculture proposals worth over ₹18,397 crore across various States and Union Territories over the past four years, with a central share exceeding ₹8,124 crore so far. Of these approvals, around ₹4,977 crore has already been released nationwide for implementation.
The scheme’s interventions are aimed at strengthening both coastal and inland fisheries, encouraging private investment, supporting cooperative formations, and integrating modern technologies into fish production and marketing.
Economic and Social Impact
Officials emphasise that the financial support under PMMSY is not just about increasing fish output, but also about empowering rural communities dependent on fisheries for their livelihood. By improving infrastructure, promoting value addition, and offering targeted financial assistance, the scheme seeks to enhance resilience, expand market linkages, and raise incomes for men and women involved in the sector.
With J&K’s unique geography and emerging interest in aquaculture ventures such as trout farming, stakeholders believe that sustained support under PMMSY could transform local fisheries into a strong driver of employment and nutrition security in the region.
