Fish Farming in Punjab has emerged as a boon for farming community, reeling under the pressure of stagnated vicious cycle of two crops. It has immensely contributed to their income with less investment and easy gain. It was disclosed by the Minister for Animal Husbandry and Diary Development Mr. Gulzar Singh Ranike. He said that the practice of Fish Farming is on the rise in Punjab, which is evident from the fact that most of the farmers in the state had converted their barren lands into Pools for the Fish Farming. He said that the state government was aiming at the development of Fish Farming in the districts suffering from the problem of soar water, like Mukatsar ,Faridkot and Ferozpur.He said that the Punjab Government had also initiated efforts for Fish Farming in the natural reservoirs of water such as lakes.The minister disclosed that till date 11,000 hectare land had been brought under the Fish Farming, which resulted in providing employment to 50,000 unemployed youth directly and indirectly.He said that the department had imparted training to around 10,000 persons to equip them with the hi-tech techniques of Fish Farming.
The minister further said that for the 2012-2017 five year plan, the state government had forwarded a plan of Rs 49875 laks, which incorporated many new techniques in the field of Fish Farming. He said that the departments run 14 government fish breeding farms. He said every year around 350 lakh quality fish was provided to the farmers on subsidized rates. He said that the government owned one state level hi-tech laboratory and two district level mobile laboratories to substantiate Fish Farming.