Punjab, long celebrated as India’s breadbasket, is now carving a niche in aquaculture. The state churns out 181,188 tons of fish annually from natural waters, private ponds, and community-managed ponds, with 43,973 acres dedicated to fish farming. Yet, amid this piscine bounty, shrimp farming is emerging as a standout, transforming the economic prospects of regions once written off as agricultural dead zones.

At a recent state-level seminar in SAS Nagar (Mohali), hosted by the Fisheries Department, over 300 farmers and officials gathered to explore cutting-edge technologies, best practices, and innovative methods in fish farming. The event served as a platform to spotlight shrimp cultivation, signaling Punjab’s ambition to diversify its agrarian economy.

Shrimp Farming Takes Root

In the southwestern districts of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, and Fazilka, shrimp farming is rewriting the script for lands plagued by water-logging and salinity. Previously unfit for traditional crops, these areas are now yielding substantial returns. “Shrimp farming in these districts is providing farmers with a net profit of 250,000 to 400,000 rupees (around $2,900 to $4,700) per acre,” noted Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Punjab’s Minister of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries, underscoring the sector’s profitability.

To bolster this growth, the state produces approximately 140 million quality fish seed each year across 16 government-run farms, distributed at subsidized rates. This initiative ensures that shrimp farmers, alongside their peers in broader aquaculture, have access to vital resources, leveling the playing field for smallholders and large operators alike.

Policy Push and Farmer Pride

The Punjab government is doubling down on its support. Over the past four years, the Fisheries Department has disbursed more than 300 million rupees (more than $3.51 million) in subsidies to 618 families under a centrally sponsored scheme. These funds fuel an array of projects—expansion of fish and shrimp farming, transportation vehicles, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), bio-floc units, fish kiosks, and mini feed mills—all aimed at scaling up production and profitability.

Recognition has followed innovation, with two progressive fish farmers, Amiteshwar Singh Gill from Fatehgarh Sahib and Parminderjit Singh from Kapurthala, honored at the seminar for their contributions. Farmers were also urged to enroll on the National Fisheries Digital Platform, a government database promising streamlined operations, while updates on the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana reinforced the state’s commitment. The event closed with officials thanking attendees, a nod to the collaborative spirit driving Punjab’s shrimp-led aquaculture ascent.