In a significant move aimed at transforming unproductive wasteland into thriving hubs for shrimp farming, the Union government of India is rolling out a groundbreaking aquaculture plan worth $69.3 million in four northern states—Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab. This strategic initiative aims to create a hub for farming shrimp, catering to both export and domestic consumption while making use of land that is unsuitable for conventional crops.

According to insiders with knowledge of the matter, officials and scientists from the Department of Fisheries and the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture have spent the past year meticulously testing thousands of hectares of saline wasteland across 25 districts in the aforementioned states. The goal was to identify clusters where shrimp aquaculture could be both feasible and productive.

India currently holds the position of the second-largest aquaculture shrimp producer globally, boasting an impressive production of 900,000 tonnes in 2022, trailing only behind Ecuador.

In this ambitious endeavor, Haryana emerges as a potential major center for shrimp farming, with its productivity matching the world average at about 6-7 tonnes per hectare. This is a notable development, considering that most shrimp farming in India has traditionally been concentrated in coastal states.

The shrimp hubs in these northern states are set to be eco-friendly, incorporating technologies such as biofloc, and will exclusively occupy unproductive wasteland. Sagar Mehra, joint secretary in the fisheries department, emphasized this commitment to sustainability, stating, “The difference with the shrimp hubs in these states will be that they will be eco-friendly, using technologies such as biofloc and will come up only on unproductive wasteland.”

The project aims to generate approximately 50,000 local jobs, encompassing direct employment as well as opportunities in ancillary warehousing and cold storages. As part of this initiative, a modern aqua park in Bhiwani, funded at $12 million, is expected to serve as a training center for the burgeoning aquaculture industry.

In a bid to address environmental concerns associated with traditional shrimp farming, the shrimp clusters in northern India will utilize biofloc technology developed by the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture. This innovative approach will treat excreta and other wastes on-site, converting them into feed for the crustaceans.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, with a funding structure shared on a 60:40 basis between the Centre and states, is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting new shrimp farmers. This micro-credit scheme, aimed at creating aquaculture assets, is expected to generate 5.5 million livelihoods nationally by 2025.

The selected districts for this ambitious project include Rohtak, Fatehabad, and Gurugram in Haryana; Mathura, Agra, and Hathras in Uttar Pradesh; Fazilka, Muktsar, and Mansa in Punjab; and Ganganagar and Churu in Rajasthan.

CV Balakrishna, a former marine consultant with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stressed the importance of comprehensive support and market linkages for the project’s success. He noted, “The key to this project’s success will be to ensure there is handholding from start to finish and export avenues and remunerative prices are ensured through market linkages.”

For the export aspect, agreements are anticipated to be signed with the Marine Products Export Development Authority, according to the first official, signaling a strategic move to bolster India’s position as a major player in the global aquaculture shrimp market.