Punjab extends 50 per cent subsidy on fish farming to all districts

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government today extended the 50 per cent subsidy scheme on fish farming to all districts in the state besides releasing Rs 3 crore for the areas affected by water-logging.

Previously, the subsidy was provided to only those districts facing severe problems of water logging but now the state has decided to extend the 50 per cent subsidy cover for all districts, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike said.

Punjab has a huge potential in fish farming which can be explored to reach new heights, he added.

Ranike further said that this subsidy would prove a boon for the farmers having lands in saline areas and on the banks of Satluj, Beas and Ghaggar rivers.

As per the norms, farmers having one acre land under fish farming will get Rs 60,000 for digging, Rs 20,000 for feed purposes and Rs 18,000 to purchase aerator for increasing amount of oxygen in water, Fisheries Director Inderjit Singh informed.

He said that this is the appropriate time for digging of ponds and putting fish seeds to start fish farming.

Punjab has 37,000 acres land under fish farming.