The Department of Fisheries would be setting up 250 units of trout farming in the year 2021 to give a boost to private enterprise. 200 units would be meant for the general category and 50 units for other categories. Besides this, the department would also establish 50 carp farms out of which 35 are meant for the general population and 15 for categories.
This information was given by Director Fisheries, Bashir Ahmad while talking to Rising Kashmir. “So far the department has established 581 trout farms and 1079 carp farms. These farms would give a boost to private entrepreneurs and would act as a source of income to the youth,” the Director said. According to figures from the Department, the production of trout through farming has amounted to a total of 500 tonnes and with the intervention of entrepreneurs, the production can increase to 800 tonnes. “There is a trout farming unit coming up at Kangan through one of the entrepreneurs who is using Recirculatory AquaCulture System technology. Through this technology, they will use common water sources like bore-wells and store this water and maintain oxygen and water at a level meant for trout farming. The production through this unit can go as high as 800 tonnes.”
He added that another similar unit is coming up at Awantipora, although at a smaller scale. “Young entrepreneurs are showing real interest in this venture.” He said that the Government is also providing strong support so the youth should avail it. “The ratio of providing financial support for hatchery or similar other initiatives is fixed as 40:60, that is 40 percent is borne by the Government of India and 60 percent has to be borne by the beneficiary.” The department is also taking up several other initiatives, which includes establishing bio flock units. “These are circular tanks meant for carps with height of two and a half meter and diameter of 4 meter,” Bashir said. To help people flourish in this industry, the department has started privatisation back in 2004. “The scheme is most useful for people who have good water supply and land. The government provides financial assistance for construction and also helps in technical aspects,” Bashir added.