Haryana to take up a pilot project for boosting fish production

In a bid to increase the farmers’ income in the State and realize the concept of peri-urban agriculture, Haryana Government has decided to take up a pilot project for boosting fish production in the State through aquaculture.

For implementation of the project, Haryana Fishery Resource Development Authority would be constituted, said Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries Minister, OP Dhankar on Friday.

He said there is considerable area, which is water logged and not much agriculture activities are being undertaken on such chunks of lands in water logged areas. Therefore, for better utilization of these land pockets and providing adequate income to the farmers having such kind of lands, State Government has decided to start fisheries projects over about 16,000 acres of water logged areas in Jhajjar and Charkhi Dadri districts.

This will give a boost to fish production in the state, which could go up to 64,000 tonnes annually, having market value of approximately Rs 640 crore. More employment opportunities for the farmers would also be generated, he added.

Dhankar said that the Haryana Fishery Resource Development Authority would be established under administrative control of the Fisheries Department with Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary as chairman of the Authority. The Authority would get on lease the water logged land from the farmers for 10 years and further extendable up to 5-10 years, as per the will of the owner of the land.