The Secretary of the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, visited the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai, and chaired a review meeting on saline water shrimp aquaculture in the states of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. The meeting focused on harnessing the potential of saline land for aquaculture to create employment and livelihood opportunities.
During the meeting, fisheries officials from each state presented updates on the progress, achievements, and challenges in developing saline aquaculture and shrimp farming:
Uttar Pradesh reported the availability of 1.37 lakh hectares of saline land in districts such as Mathura, Agra, Hathras, and Raebareli, and outlined various initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
Rajasthan highlighted increasing shrimp farming activities in salt-affected districts like Churu and Ganganagar, including the cultivation of species like Penaeus vannamei, milkfish, and pearl spot. A diagnostic lab has also been set up in Churu under PMMSY.
Punjab shared developments in shrimp farming in southwestern districts such as Sri Muktsar Sahib and Fazilka. Key facilities include a 30-tonne cold storage and ice plant and a dedicated training center.
Haryana showcased significant progress, having achieved a production of 13,914 tonnes with an investment of ₹57.09 crore under PMMSY.
Approximately 58,000 hectares of saline-affected land have been identified across these four states, but only 2,608 hectares are currently in use. These underutilized lands, unsuitable for conventional farming, hold great promise for aquaculture-based livelihood generation. India is the second-largest producer of shrimp in the world, with over 65% of seafood export earnings coming from shrimp. Yet, inland saline aquaculture remains largely untapped.
Farmers from the participating states raised several issues during the meeting- High setup costs and inadequate subsidy coverage, The restrictive 2-hectare area limit
Fluctuating salinity levels, High land lease rates, Poor availability of quality seed, Lack of marketing infrastructure, including markets and cold storage,
Rising input costs and low market prices:
These challenges have led to reduced profitability, prompting farmers to request increased government support for sustainability.
The Department of Fisheries emphasized the importance of long-term strategic planning in collaboration with ICAR, state governments, and other institutions. Key focus areas include awareness campaigns, dissemination of technical knowledge through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), identification of potential aquaculture clusters, and expansion of cultivation areas. The Department also stressed the need to establish a National Committee to review inland shrimp farming guidelines and develop a comprehensive roadmap for the sustainable development of saline aquaculture in northern India.
