Sirsa to emerge as major shrimp farming hub: Union fisheries secy

Hisar: Sirsa is going to emerge as a major hub for shrimp farming, Union fisheries secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi said on Wednesday, highlighting the Centre's push to promote aquaculture as a key source of employment.Addressing a workshop on saline water aquaculture cluster at Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa, Likhi said the Centre has notified 34 shrimp farming clusters across the country, including Sirsa in Haryana, with a focus on scaling up production and farmer income. He said the cluster-based approach aims to build a strong value chain "from seed to market", enabling farmers to access better technology, quality seed and assured market linkages. "The idea is to encourage farmers to work in groups and benefit from integrated support," he added. The workshop was attended by senior officials, including fisheries director Pawan Kumar, Sirsa deputy commissioner Shantanu Sharma, National Fisheries Development Board CEO Dr Vijay Kumar and other department officials. Joint secretary Sagar Mehra and other senior officers joined virtually. Likhi also interacted with farmers and students, seeking feedback on challenges faced in shrimp farming. Later, he visited Raghuana village, where he met farmers and reviewed on-ground practices, directing officials to address issues raised by stakeholders. Progressive farmers shared suggestions, including the need for geo-tagging and geo-fencing of shrimp produce to ensure authenticity and better pricing. Woman farmer Satvinder Kaur described shrimp farming as a profitable venture and an opportunity for youth, while Bimla Sinwar suggested leasing panchayat land to women self-help groups to promote financial independence. Officials said Haryana has emerged as a leading shrimp-producing state, with Sirsa contributing significantly to the sector's growth. Caption of photo: Union fisheries secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi with farmers in Sirsa district MSID:: 130115387 413 |