Srinagar gets ₹300 crore under PMMSY for dairy, fisheries boost
Srinagar is witnessing a transformative shift in its dairy and fisheries sectors as the Centre allocates ₹300 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with an additional ₹100 crore Integrated Aqua Park in consideration. With a strong focus on value addition, export readiness, and ecological advantage, this move is expected to modernise the Union Territory’s rural economy. Trout farming, milk processing, and sustainable aquaculture are now central to Jammu & Kashmir’s livestock vision.
The government’s renewed push in Srinagar’s fisheries and livestock sectors is geared towards long-term economic sustainability and self-reliance. Under the PMMSY scheme, the region has already witnessed an 800% rise in trout production in a decade, growing from 262 to 2,380 metric tonnes. Trout seed production has also soared, aided by the import of genetically improved ova from Denmark. This advancement is backed by over ₹120 crore in private cold-water fisheries investment, creating ripple effects across supply chains and rural employment. With Anantnag declared a cold-water fisheries cluster and neighbouring Kulgam and Shopian included as partners, a full-fledged aquaculture ecosystem is now under development. Plans for an Integrated Aqua Park further elevate this vision, aiming to serve as a Himalayan model for cold-water aquaculture. The region’s dairy output is also surging, with milk production rising 47% over the last decade, now supported by infrastructure such as a new ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk processing unit in Jammu.
Beyond infrastructure, the transformation is anchored in local empowerment and scientific advancement. Authorities are prioritising the formation of cooperatives to enable marginal dairy farmers, many of whom are women, to participate actively in the value chain. Experts have highlighted that over 70% of dairy sector participation nationally is female-led, making this a gender-equity step as well. Meanwhile, academic and research institutions like SKUAST-K are playing a pivotal role in capacity building, having introduced high-density apple orchards and even gene-edited livestock in the region. The integration of science, processing capacity, and investment signals a shift from subsistence to sustainable, export-ready production. Officials view this as part of a broader vision to position Jammu & Kashmir as a regional leader in premium fisheries and dairy products. If executed efficiently, these interventions could convert the valley’s ecological edge and traditional knowledge into resilient rural income and employment engines by 2030.
Jammu & Kashmir’s fisheries and dairy roadmap represents a comprehensive, future-ready plan rooted in sustainable livelihoods, gender inclusivity, and rural transformation. With ₹300 crore sanctioned and more under consideration, the region is poised to become a cold-water aquaculture and dairy innovation hub. The expansion of infrastructure, value-added processing, and scientific interventions mark a critical step toward building a self-reliant rural economy. By blending ecological strength with skill development and cooperative models, this strategy aims not just at growth, but at equitable prosperity—ensuring that farming and fishing communities across the Union Territory reap long-term benefits.
