PMMSY review at Pithoragarh: ₹2,299 crore for coldwater fisheries in hilly states

A meeting on the Pithoragarh coldwater fisheries cluster on 19 October 2026 reviewed work under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Fisheries Secretary Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi chaired it at the Collectorate, with trout farmers, the Uttarakhand fisheries department, ICAR-DCFR Bhimtal, NABARD, NFDB and MPEDA taking part. Over ₹2,299 crore has been invested in hilly states under the scheme for raceways, hatcheries, feed units, cold storages and post-harvest work.

Uttarakhand has got ₹317 crore in six years and now has 1,638 raceways and 10 hatcheries. Over 45 MT of trout worth ₹2.10 crore has been supplied to ITBP posts. With support from ICAR-DCFR Bhimtal, the state sent its first export of 5 MT trout to Nepal in June 2026.

The meeting listed gaps in the chain: 15 lakh fingerlings produced against demand of 40 lakh, output of 250 kg per raceway against a potential of 1,000 kg, feed supply problems and weak cold chain. Likhi asked the department and district administration to get start-ups into fish-waste use and to study cold storage near airports and railway stations. A pilot with FAO is planned at Munsiyari, where women run trout farming. Farmers asked for training support and a higher rate for trout supplied to ITBP. Coldwater clusters have been notified at Pithoragarh, Kullu, Anantnag and Kargil.