Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying has announced that the Government of India is considering the establishment of an Integrated Aqua Park in Jammu and Kashmir at an estimated cost of ₹100 crore under Phase-II of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). This park is envisioned as a model project to promote holistic development in the cold-water fisheries sector.
The announcement was made during a function at the Shalimar Convention Centre of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST-K). The event was attended by J&K’s Agriculture Minister Shri Javid Ahmad Dar, Animal Husbandry Secretary Ms. Alka Upadhyaya, senior officials from the Centre and UT, and progressive farmers from across the region.
On this occasion, Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and J&K Chief Minister Shri Omar Abdullah also virtually inaugurated a 50,000-litre-per-day Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) milk processing plant in Satwari, Jammu.
The Union Minister highlighted that milk production in Jammu and Kashmir has increased from 19.5 lakh tonnes in 2014–15 to 28.74 lakh tonnes in 2023–24, marking a 47% rise. The current per capita milk availability stands at 413 grams per day. Trout production has also shown a remarkable jump — from 650 metric tonnes in 2020–21 to 2,380 metric tonnes in 2023–24. This was made possible through the import of 13.4 lakh genetically improved Rainbow and Brown Trout eyed ova from Denmark, ensuring high-quality seed availability for local farmers.
The Minister emphasized the critical role of livestock and fisheries in boosting rural incomes and ensuring nutritional security. The Centre has allocated ₹852 crore under PMMSY for the Northeastern and Himalayan states, including ₹300 crore specifically for Jammu and Kashmir.
Anantnag district has been designated as a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster, with Kulgam and Shopian as partner districts. This cluster aims to support integrated value chain development and create sustainable livelihoods.
Private Investment and Youth Engagement: The Government is supporting private investments worth over ₹120 crore under the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF). The Minister also stressed the importance of involving youth in micro and small-scale livestock and fisheries enterprises. He concluded by affirming that combined efforts of the Central and UT governments would help realize the vision of agricultural prosperity in J&K and contribute to building an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Read More- PM Modi launches fisheries projects worth ₹50 crore
