Punjab Produces 1.81 Lakh Tonnes of Fish, Says Gurmeet Singh Khuddian

Mohali (The Uttam Hindu): In a major update from Punjab, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian announced that the state is cranking out a solid 1,81,188 tons of fish annually from natural water sources, private ponds, and panchayat ponds. Right now, fish farming is rocking an area of about 43,973 acres in Punjab.

Khuddian was speaking at a state-level seminar held in Mohali, where he highlighted the importance of keeping fish farmers in the loop about the latest tech, best practices, and modern fish farming methods. More than 300 farmers and officials showed up for the seminar, making it clear that the fisheries sector is on the rise in the state.

To push the sector even further, Punjab produces around 14 crore high-quality fish seeds annually at 16 government fish seed farms, which are made available to farmers at a subsidy. That’s a serious commitment to boosting the local industry.

And it’s not just fish farming getting attention—shrimp farming is also making waves in Punjab. Some previously unproductive lands in the south-western districts like Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, and Fazilka are now being used for shrimp farming. These areas, once too salty and alkaline for traditional farming, are now bringing in serious cash. Farmers are earning between Rs 2.5 to 4 lakh per acre after covering costs, giving them a major income boost.

Khuddian also took a moment to honor two standout fish farmers, Amiteshwar Singh Gill from Fatehgarh Sahib and Parminderjit Singh from Kapurthala, for their awesome contributions to the industry.

Punjab is definitely making big moves in the fish and shrimp farming game, and it's all about providing more opportunities for farmers and strengthening the state's economy.