Ziraat Times Team Report
New Delhi, March 19: Jammu & Kashmir is among the states receiving support under the Centre’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), with three approved projects worth ₹130.21 crore aimed at strengthening fisheries infrastructure in the Union Territory. The scheme is part of a broader push by the Government of India to boost fish production, improve infrastructure and enhance incomes of fishermen and fish farmers across the country.
According to information shared in the Rajya Sabha by Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, the Department of Fisheries has been implementing the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund since 2018-19 with a total outlay of ₹7,522.48 crore.
J&K projects under FIDF
Under the scheme, Jammu and Kashmir has received approval for three private sector projects with a total project cost of ₹130.21 crore, of which ₹100.78 crore is eligible for interest subvention. The concessional financing under the scheme aims to help develop fisheries infrastructure and expand aquaculture activities in the region.
What the FIDF scheme provides
The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund offers concessional finance for fisheries infrastructure, with the Centre providing interest subvention of up to 3% per year. Loans are extended through Nodal Loaning Entities at interest rates not lower than 5%.
So far nationwide:
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228 projects have been approved at a total cost of ₹5,559.54 crore.
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Loans worth ₹4,212.05 crore have been sanctioned for 111 projects.
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About ₹1,600.56 crore has already been disbursed.
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68 projects have been completed, while the rest are under implementation.
Infrastructure created under the scheme
Projects supported under FIDF include development of:
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Fishing harbours and fish landing centres
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Ice plants and cold storage facilities
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Integrated cold chain infrastructure
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Modern fish markets
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Hatcheries and brood banks
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Fish seed farms modernization
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Fish processing units and feed mills
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Cage culture in reservoirs and mariculture
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Fisheries training and technology centres
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Deep-sea fishing vessels and diagnostic laboratories
Among these, major investments have gone into fishing harbours, fish landing centres, hatcheries and aquaculture infrastructure.
Schemes currently available to fishermen in India
The government said FIDF works alongside other central and state initiatives to support fishermen and fish farmers. Major schemes available include:
1. Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
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Provides concessional finance for building fisheries infrastructure such as harbours, cold chains, hatcheries and markets.
2. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
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A flagship scheme offering financial assistance for fish farming, aquaculture expansion, modernisation, insurance support, value chain development and marketing.
3. State Government Fisheries Schemes
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Various states and Union Territories run their own programmes supporting fishermen with subsidies, equipment, fish seed, training and infrastructure development.
