Ganderbal,Oct 13 : Government-supported fisheries schemes are creating livelihood opportunities for unemployed youth in Ganderbal district, with local fish farmers benefiting from financial assistance, technical guidance and marketing support from the Fisheries Department.
Riaz Ahmad Raina, a fish farmer from Mamar, Kangan, has emerged as an example of self-employment through fish farming with the support of the Fisheries Department, Ganderbal.
Raina said he established his fish farm during 2020–21 with departmental assistance, receiving 4,000 fish fingerlings and financial support of Rs 1.20 lakh. He said the department has played an important role in helping him establish and expand his business by providing training and guidance.
He said rainbow trout farming has provided him with a source of income, attracting customers from Kargil, Drass, Ladakh and Srinagar. The farm also offers fish cleaning and frying facilities to customers.
According to Raina, trout farming requires patience, investment and proper management, as fish generally take around 12 to 14 months to reach marketable size. He said the business also involves considerable expenses, with monthly operational costs ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000.
He cautioned aspiring fish farmers that the business carries risks, particularly if the water supply is disrupted or the fish are exposed to contamination. He urged interested youth to seek proper guidance from the department before starting such ventures.
Meanwhile, Assistant Director Fisheries, Muneer Ahmad, said the department is implementing various government schemes to promote fish farming and generate employment opportunities in the district.
He said that under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), 22 units, including trout, carp and biofloc units, have been established, with a subsidy component of Rs 58.10 lakh. He said beneficiaries are earning their livelihoods through these units, while the department continues to provide technical guidance and support.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), the department has established 10 units in Ganderbal with a subsidy component of Rs 37.18 lakh. These include trout and carp farming units, biofloc facilities and marketing interventions such as vending centres and vehicles for transporting fish.
Muneer Ahmad said these initiatives aim to strengthen local production, improve marketing and promote value addition so that fish produced in the district can be consumed locally while generating better returns for farmers.
He further said that under HADP, nine additional units were planned, of which eight have already been established. A medium-scale Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) unit is also being developed, with a subsidy component of Rs 38.85 lakh. The initiative is expected to create employment opportunities for around nine to ten people.
The Assistant Director said interested youth can apply for fisheries-related schemes, including live fish vending centres and value-addition facilities, through the available departmental application process and online portal.
He added that the department is also working to address marketing challenges faced by fish farmers by connecting producers with agencies that can procure their produce at reasonable prices.
The department has also started creating awareness among farmers about fish insurance, with the proposed mechanism expected to provide additional protection against risks associated with fish farming once finalised and implemented.
The Fisheries Department has urged unemployed youth with suitable land and water resources to explore fisheries-related schemes, saying the sector has significant potential for self-employment and income generation in the district.
