On the occasion of National Fish Farmers Day on 10th July 2025, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh launched 17 new fisheries clusters at ICAR–Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. These clusters, developed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), aim to boost fish production and economically empower small-scale fish farmers across the country.
On the same day, the Union Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for 70 fisheries-related projects across 11 states, with a total investment of ₹105 crore. With the addition of these new clusters, India now has 34 active fisheries clusters, setting a strong foundation for region-based, cluster-driven growth in the fisheries sector.
During the program, the Union Minister unveiled guidelines for seed certification and hatchery operations and released the ICAR Training Calendar to promote standardization, quality production, and regional skill enhancement. The event also saw the felicitation of traditional fishers, cooperative societies, KCC cardholders, and emerging fisheries start-ups for their contributions.
Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh highlighted that over 3 crore Indians depend on fisheries for their livelihood. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Government of India has made a historic investment of ₹38,572 crore in the sector. He emphasized the adoption of global best practices in multi-species aquaculture, disease management, value addition, and marketing, along with the strengthening of cluster-based production and training frameworks.
Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi underlined Odisha’s pivotal role in helping India achieve the national fish production target of 195 lakh tonnes. He mentioned key initiatives such as the Aqua Park in Sambalpur, development of scampi hatcheries, and disaster preparedness programs in 18 cyclone-prone villages.
Cluster-Based Development: A Path to Progress: The cluster-based development model brings together micro, small, medium, and large enterprises located within a specific geography to collaborate across the value chain—from production to exports. This approach promotes resource sharing, cost efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth, enabling enterprises to access shared infrastructure, technical support, and marketing resources, while preparing them to compete globally.
Scaling New Heights in India’s Fisheries Sector: Minister of State Shri George Kurian applauded the record 195 lakh tonnes of fish production, marking a 105% increase over the past decade. He commended the dedication of India’s fisher communities and reaffirmed the government’s continued support for a brighter, more sustainable future in the fisheries sector.
