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The Bihar government has been running several schemes to promote fish farming, leading to an increase in the income of fish farmers. According to the Bihar government, fish production has increased from 4.79 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2023-24, marking a growth of 81.98%. As a result, Bihar has now reached the fourth position in the country for fish production, compared to its ninth position in 2014-15. Furthermore, in 2023-24, Bihar also exported 38.38 thousand metric tonnes of fish to other states.
To encourage fish production, the Government of India approved a special package for Bihar, allocating a total of ₹279.55 crore, of which ₹102.49 crore is the central share, and ₹56.35 crore has already been released to the state. This package includes approval for key activities such as fish seed rearing, construction of new ponds, Magur and prawn hatcheries, housing for fishermen, cage culture, wholesale and retail fish markets, and mobile fish outlets.
Additionally, the Bihar government has taken several initiatives under the state plan to promote fish farming and increase production. These include:
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a total of ₹522.41 crore has been sanctioned for projects in Bihar from 2020-21 to 2023-24, and the current financial year 2024-25. Of this, ₹158.82 crore is the central share, and ₹79.84 crore has already been released. The approved activities under this scheme include the establishment of finfish hatcheries, brood banks, cage culture in reservoirs, ornamental fish breeding units, RAS and biofloc units, cold storage, feed mills, and post-harvest transport vehicles.
Financial Assistance for Farmers : To support fish farmers, 1,290 Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) have been issued to fishermen in Bihar to help meet their working capital needs.
Initiatives for Livestock and Dairy Development: