New fish ponds, aquaculture systems, reservoir cages and an Integrated Aqua Park boost production, incomes and rural employment

Key Highlights

• ₹956.86 crore worth of PMMSY projects approved for Chhattisgarh between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
• Central share of ₹321.01 crore, of which ₹274.16 crore has been released.
• Fish production increased from 3.14 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25.
• Projects include 3,200 hectares of new fish ponds, 8,500 reservoir cages and 820 biofloc units.
• The state has also received approval for one Integrated Aqua Park.
• PMMSY provides annual accidental insurance coverage to 5.52 lakh fishers in Chhattisgarh.

India’s fisheries development programme is expanding beyond coastal regions, with Chhattisgarh emerging as a significant inland fisheries and aquaculture hub under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has approved fisheries projects worth ₹956.86 crore for Chhattisgarh during the six-year period from 2020-21 to 2025-26. The projects carry a Central share of ₹321.01 crore, of which ₹274.16 crore has been released to the state.

Aquaculture Infrastructure Gets Major Push

The PMMSY-supported projects are aimed at increasing fish production, expanding aquaculture, improving access to technology and strengthening the economic security of fish farmers.

Major infrastructure approved for Chhattisgarh includes:

• 28 fish seed hatcheries
• 3,200 hectares of new fish ponds
• 287 Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) units
• 820 biofloc units
• 14 fish feed mills
• 511 small fish transport vehicles
• 8,500 cages in reservoirs
• One Integrated Aqua Park

The combination of pond development, intensive aquaculture systems and reservoir-based cage farming is expected to diversify production and create additional income opportunities for rural communities.

Fish Production Nearly Triples in a Decade

Chhattisgarh’s fish production has increased substantially, rising from 3.14 lakh metric tonnes in 2014-15 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2024-25.

The government attributes the growth to increased aquaculture capacity, infrastructure development, technology adoption and financial and welfare support under PMMSY.

The expansion is also expected to support rural entrepreneurship and employment while strengthening the state’s domestic fish supply chain.

Fisher Welfare and Financial Security

PMMSY’s interventions in Chhattisgarh extend beyond production infrastructure.

The scheme provides:

• Accidental insurance coverage to 5.52 lakh fishers annually
• Livelihood and nutritional support to 9,667 fishers annually
• Improved institutional credit access through Kisan Credit Cards for 4,189 fishers

These measures are intended to provide a stronger social-security cushion for fishing communities while enabling fish farmers and entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses.

Integrated Aqua Park to Strengthen the Value Chain

The approval of an Integrated Aqua Park (IAP) is particularly significant for Chhattisgarh’s inland fisheries sector.

Integrated aqua parks are designed to bring multiple fisheries activities together, potentially covering production, processing, storage, marketing and other value-chain operations.

For the state, this could help improve the movement of fish from farms and reservoirs to markets while reducing post-harvest losses and creating opportunities for value-added fisheries businesses.

Hospitality and Tourism Potential

The expansion of inland fisheries could also create opportunities for hospitality, culinary tourism and rural tourism in Chhattisgarh.

Growing fish production and improved cold-chain and transportation infrastructure can strengthen the supply of locally sourced fish for hotels, restaurants, resorts and institutional food businesses.

Reservoir-based cage aquaculture and Integrated Aqua Park development could additionally support new forms of rural and waterfront tourism, particularly if combined with local food experiences, recreational activities and community-based tourism.

Bottom Line

Chhattisgarh’s fisheries sector is moving from a largely production-focused model towards an integrated aquaculture ecosystem. With ₹956.86 crore in PMMSY approvals, rapidly rising fish production, intensive aquaculture technologies and expanded fisher welfare measures, the state is strengthening its position as an inland fisheries growth centre while creating new opportunities across agriculture, food, hospitality and rural economies.