By launching the Mukhya Mantri Carp Matsya Palan Yojana (MMCMPY) in the year 2024-25, the Himachal Pradesh government didn't just introduce a scheme, but took measures to transform the rural economy.
An official spokesman here said the results of this systemic change are already visible in the numbers. The state’s total fish production has surged from 17,000 metric tonnes in 2022-23 to a projected 19,000 metric tonnes this year. But more importantly, the growth in state reservoirs like Gobind Sagar, Pong Dam, and Kol Dam is a proof that modern management and community involvement are working together to provide employment opportunities to the people near their villages.
The scheme is currently being implemented in eight districts of the state, namely Bilaspur, Mandi, Una, Hamirpur, Kangra, Sirmaur and Chamba, covering a wide geographical area and ensuring balanced regional development in the fisheries sector.
The spokesman said the Chief Minister's vision of Vyavastha Parivartan is about making the government a partner in the farmer's journey towards self-reliance. To facilitate this, the government has set the unit cost for carp farming at Rs. 12.40 lakh per hectare and took the unprecedented step of providing an 80 percent subsidy. This ensures that the financial burden on the youth and small farmers is minimised, allowing them to focus on production rather than debt.
The spokesman said whether it is a large one hectare pond or a small 500 square metre unit for a marginal farmer, the government support is inclusive and unwavering.
The state government is establishing state-of-the-art Brood Banks. With an investment of Rs. 10 crore a Carp Brood Bank is being set up in Nalagarh and a Trout Brood Bank in Patlikuhal. These facilities will ensure that our farmers have access to high-quality seeds, ending the old era of dependence on external sources and ensuring the sustainability of our aquaculture practices.
Similarly, in the financial year 2025–26, the scheme continues to gain momentum, with the construction of new fish ponds covering an area of 5 hectares currently underway. For this purpose, a financial outlay of Rs. 50.00 lakh has been earmarked and is being utilized. The unit cost under the scheme has been fixed at Rs. 12.40 lakh per hectare, which includes the cost of first-year inputs such as seed, feed and other essential materials.
The spokesman said through MMCMPY, the state government is not just breeding fish, but breeding hope and self-employment and a resilient future for over 20,000 families.
"This is the essence of Vyavastha Parivartan, changing the system to change lives," he said.
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