In a notable advancement towards the blue revolution in Punjab, the State Government has successfully expanded the area under fish farming by 1,942 acres during the fiscal year 2023-24. This increase has taken the total area dedicated to fish farming from 42,031 acres to 43,973 acres within a year.   Marking this achievement on the eve of National Fish Farmers Day, Punjab Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister, S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian attributed the success to the hard work and dedication of the states fish farmers. He extended his heartfelt congratulations to all the fish and shrimp farmers and urged other farmers to consider fish farming as a viable auxiliary occupation to boost their income. The Punjab government is actively promoting fish farming as a supplementary agricultural activity to enhance farmers livelihoods.   To support this initiative, the Punjab Government has been providing high-quality fish seed from 16 government fish seed farms at subsidized rates. For the convenience of shrimp farmers, services are being offered at the Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Center located in Ena Khera village, district Sri Muktsar Sahib, he added.   Additionally, the Government is promoting shrimp farming in the saline-affected southwestern districts of the State, where farmers are now practicing shrimp farming across more than 1,315 acres. This effort is part of a broader strategy to diversify agricultural practices and utilize areas unsuitable for traditional crops.   Punjab government is also providing significant financial assistance to encourage various fish farming projects. Subsidies ranging from 40 to 60 percent are available for establishing fish and shrimp ponds, purchasing fish transport vehicles, setting up fish kiosks or shops, cold storage plants, fish feed mills, and ornamental fish units. These measures aim to lower the entry barrier for new farmers and expand existing operations.   As part of its commitment to fostering self-employment, the Government has disbursed approximately Rs 25 crores in subsidies, benefiting 450 individuals. This initiative not only supports the fish farming industry but also contributes to the broader goal of employment generation and economic development in rural areas, he added.

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