The Union Minister highlighted the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to the growth of Jammu and Kashmir’s livestock and fisheries sectors as engines of rural income and nutritional security.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, said that flagship schemes like the Blue Revolution, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have played a transformative role in strengthening the fisheries ecosystem in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Singh was speaking at a function organized at Shalimar Convention Centre, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir on Wednesday.
J&K Minister for Agriculture Production and Panchayati Raj, Javid Ahmad Dar, Alka Upadhyaya, Secretary Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and other senior officers of Central and UT administration besides progressive farmers from various parts of the Kashmir Valley were present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, the Union Minister highlighted the Government of India’s steadfast commitment to the growth of Jammu and Kashmir’s livestock and fisheries sectors as engines of rural income and nutritional security.
He informed that over 10 crore farmers across the country depend on livestock for their livelihoods, with more than 90 per cent of dairy animals owned by small and marginal farmers. The sector contributes 12–26 per cent of rural household income, with women accounting for over 70 per cent of dairy sector participation and 32 per cent of dairy cooperative membership – demonstrating its vital role in inclusive growth, he maintained.
Rise in Milk Production
The minister further said that in Jammu and Kashmir, milk production has risen from 19.50 lakh tonnes in 2014–15 to 28.74 lakh tonnes in 2023–24 – a 47 per cent increase while per capita milk availability in J&K stands at 413 grams per day.
The minister said that to ensure quality seed, the union government has facilitated import of 13.40 lakh genetically improved eyed ova of Rainbow and Brown Trout from Denmark for the J&K government. He said that this intervention has significantly improved the availability of high-quality seed for trout farmers and boosted production from 650 MT in 2020–21 to 2,380 MT in 2023–24 – a 266 per cent increase.
Earlier in a meeting at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar the Union Minister and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah jointly chaired a high level review meeting of the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries sectors of Jammu and Kashmir and virtually inaugurated a 50,000 litres-per-day capacity Ultra High Temperature (UHT) Milk Processing plant at Satwari Jammu.
Addressing the meeting, Singh underlined the immense untapped potential in J&K’s livestock and fisheries sectors and assured full support from the Centre.
“We are here today to listen, understand your challenges, and work together. Where there is scope, there must be action,” he said. He called for joint efforts between the Centre and J&K Government to convert potential into outcomes, adding that rural prosperity can only be achieved when economic development reaches the grassroots through sustainable livelihoods.
Linking Farmers to Markets
The union minister said that encouraging youth to enter micro and small-scale livestock and fishery enterprises can generate employment and inclusive growth. He informed that a detailed plan is being drawn up involving key national institutions like the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) to build strong infrastructure and link farmers to markets.
The minister also informed the gathering that the Government of India has committed ₹852 crore under PMMSY for Himalayan and North Eastern states, including ₹300 crore specifically for J&K, to boost production, productivity, infrastructure, and employment opportunities.
Singh said that J&K’s annual fish production rose from 20,000 MT in 2013–14 to 29,000 MT in 2024–25, while trout production surged from 262 MT to 2,380 MT—an increase of over 800 per cent. Trout seed production rose from 9 million to 15.2 million, while carp seed production grew from 40 million to 63.5 million, he said.
The minister said that to ensure seed quality, the Government of India has facilitated the import of 13.4 lakh genetically improved eyed ova of Rainbow and Brown Trout from Denmark and over ₹120 crore of private investment in cold-water fisheries has been supported via FIDF.
The minister said that for recognizing J&K’s immense cold-water fisheries potential, the Ministry has formally designated Anantnag as a Cold-Water Fisheries Cluster with Kulgam and Shopian as partner districts, focusing on integrated value-chain development to generate sustainable livelihoods.
Singh said that the Union Government is considering a ₹100-crore proposal for an Integrated Aqua Park in J&K under PMMSY Phase-II to serve as a model for holistic cold-water aquaculture development and assured Government’s unwavering commitment to holistic rural development, farmer empowerment, and realizing the vision of a self-reliant and developed India.
