Nagpur: A ₹15-crore frozen freshwater fish processing centre will be set up in Gondia district, marking a major step towards value addition and industrial growth in Vidarbha’s fisheries sector. The project, which was showcased at Advantage Vidarbha exhibition, aims to reduce dependence on imports and create an integrated ecosystem around fish processing and allied industries.Speaking on the project, Pratap Goswami of the Vidarbha Fisheries Association said the facility will be developed on 1.45 acre and will be one of its kind in India, focusing on pangasius fillet processing. The plant will have a total processing capacity of 12,000 tonne annually, including 1,200 tonne of ready-to-cook products such as fish fry and tikka, and 2,400 tonne of raw frozen fish.Goswami explained that only around 40% of a fish is directly edible, while the remaining 60% will be utilised to manufacture high-protein fish meal and fuel. Even fish scales will be sent to gelatin factories, ensuring multiple revenue streams and minimal waste. The project is expected to deliver 35-40% higher value addition compared to conventional raw fish sales.Goswami said the lack of cold storage remains the biggest hurdle for fisheries sector at present, but production at the Gondia unit is expected to begin within a year. The facility is also seen as a strategic move to curb imports from Vietnam, which currently supply processed fish to hotels and large buyers. “The same market can be served by locally processed fish, benefiting farmers and entrepreneurs in the region,” Goswami said.Assistant commissioner of fisheries Shubham Komewar urged the need to reposition fish in the consumer mindset. “Milk became paneer, but fish remained fish. It has never been branded properly as a protein source,” he said, describing fish as a “highly nutritious capsule of protein”. He pointed out that while raw fish sells for around ₹200/kg, processed fish products can fetch up to ₹1,000/kg, highlighting the economic potential of processing.Komewar said the fisheries sector lacks a major success story so far, but expressed optimism that processing-oriented entrepreneurs will change the landscape. “From fish eggs to the bite on your plate, multiple industries are involved—fuel, equipment, logistics and processing,” he noted, adding that 281 government fisheries schemes are currently underway.He also stressed the need to improve accessibility and consumption. “People don’t eat fish because it isn’t easily available,” he said, suggesting cooperative models, door-to-door supply and branding campaigns on the lines of popular nutrition slogans.
