SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday addressed the National Conference on Cold Water Fisheries organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India in Srinagar.
The event was also attended by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who graced the occasion alongside senior officials and experts from across the country.
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted the significant rise in fish production and infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir since 2020, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to empower fish farmers and enhance their incomes.
He said the Union Territory has emerged as the leading producer of trout among India’s cold-water states. Under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP), launched in 2022, ₹233 crore has been allocated for fisheries development, including promotion of entrepreneurship, hatcheries, trout farming and value-added ventures.
The Lieutenant Governor noted that trout production in the region increased from 1,663 tonnes in FY 2021-22 to a record 2,650 tonnes in 2024-25. Private trout farming units have also grown from 936 to 1,649, while hatcheries have increased from one to nine during the same period.
He also thanked the Government of India for sanctioning a ₹100-crore Integrated Aqua Park Project in Anantnag district, which is expected to strengthen aquaculture infrastructure, boost fish production and generate employment in the region.
Sinha emphasised the need for scientific advancement in cold-water fisheries, including genetic improvement of fish breeds, climate-resilient systems, disease diagnostics and better aquatic health management to address emerging challenges such as climate change and water scarcity.
On the occasion, the Model Guidelines for the Development of Cold-Water Fisheries were released. Progressive fish farmers, FFPOs and fisheries start-ups were also felicitated, while sanction letters under the **Kisan Credit Card scheme and other initiatives were distributed to beneficiaries.
Among those present were Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Minister of State S. P. Singh Baghel, J&K Minister Javid Ahmad Dar, Union Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi, Additional Chief Secretary Ashish Chandra Verma, and Vice Chancellor of SKUAST-Kashmir Nazir Ahmad Ganai, along with policymakers, researchers and stakeholders from various states and Union Territories.
