J&K emerges as India’s leading Trout producer with 3010 metric tons

Ziraat Times Team Report

New Delhi, May 23: Jammu & Kashmir has emerged as India’s leading trout-producing region as the country’s cold-water fisheries sector evolves into a major pillar of the Blue Economy, generating livelihoods, boosting eco-tourism and supporting sustainable mountain development across Himalayan states.

According to official data made available to Ziraat Times, Jammu &  Kashmir produced around 3,010 metric tonnes (MT) of trout during 2024–25, supported by the Kokernag hatchery and more than 2,000 private trout farming units. The Union Territory also has over 31,000 registered fishers and fish farmers.

The Ministry said cold-water fisheries, once confined to traditional fishing in Himalayan streams, have now developed into a modern aquaculture ecosystem driven by scientific farming methods and advanced infrastructure.

Cold-water fisheries are practiced in snow-fed rivers, streams, lakes and reservoirs at altitudes where temperatures range between 5°C and 25°C, with dissolved oxygen levels above 6 mg/L and pH levels between 6.5 and 8.0. Species such as rainbow trout, golden mahseer and snow trout are cultivated using hatcheries, raceways, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), biofloc systems and cold chain facilities.

The sector is spread across Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Nagaland, besides hill districts in West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

The government said these ecosystems together cover over 5.33 lakh square kilometres of mountainous terrain, while more than 278 cold-water fish species have been identified in India.

India’s total fish production touched nearly 197.75 lakh tonnes during 2024–25, with cold-water fisheries contributing close to three percent of inland fish production. National cold-water fish production currently stands at around 7,000 metric tonnes, while trout production alone has increased nearly 1.8 times over the last decade to about 6,000 metric tonnes in 2024–25.

Besides Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh recorded around 1,673 MT trout production in 2025–26 with 909 trout farmers and 1,739 trout farming units. Uttarakhand produced around 710 MT trout and total fish production of 10,486 MT during 2024–25, supported by nearly 2,500 raceways across districts such as Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Chamoli.

Ladakh crossed 50 MT production with 120 raceways and four hatcheries despite harsh climatic conditions, while northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Nagaland are steadily expanding hatcheries and trout farming.

The government said the sector has generated significant livelihood opportunities, with 23.51 lakh families across cold-water states receiving livelihood support and 33.78 lakh fishers covered under insurance schemes.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) during 2020–26, projects worth ₹21,963.48 crore have been approved nationally, including more than ₹5,638.76 crore specifically for cold-water states.

The investments include 5,663 raceways, 54 trout hatcheries, 13 large RAS units, 16 medium RAS units, 36 small RAS units, nearly 4,600 ponds in Himalayan and northeastern regions, 293 cold storages and 8,366 transport vehicles.

State-specific allocations include ₹149.73 crore for Jammu and Kashmir, ₹317.25 crore for Uttarakhand, ₹155.48 crore for Himachal Pradesh and ₹33.49 crore for Ladakh.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) approved projects worth ₹7,761.78 crore during 2018–26 for hatcheries, training centres and fisheries infrastructure, while the Blue Revolution Scheme laid the groundwork for scientific trout farming between 2015 and 2020.

Integrated Aqua Parks have been established at Anantnag, Udham Singh Nagar, Ziro and Mokokchung, featuring hatcheries, processing facilities, cold chain systems, value-addition infrastructure and marketing support.

Four Cold Water Fisheries Clusters have also been notified at Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir, Pithoragarh in Uttarakhand, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh and Kargil in Ladakh.

The government said Jammu and Kashmir increased trout production from 298 MT in 2015–16 to 3,010 MT in 2025–26, while Himachal Pradesh pioneered the adoption of RAS and achieved captive breeding of golden mahseer.

Uttarakhand doubled its fish production to 10,486 MT and expanded nearly 2,500 raceways under the “UttaraFish” branding initiative. Ladakh, meanwhile, demonstrated the viability of aquaculture in high-altitude desert conditions with local trout seed production reaching 30,000 seed in Drass and 80,000 seed in Chochut.

The Centre said the sector’s growth has been driven by policy initiatives including the Blue Revolution Scheme, PMMSY, PM-MKSSY, FIDF and extension of Kisan Credit Card facilities to fishers.

The government has also issued the Model Guidelines for Cold Water Fisheries Development, 2026, covering site selection, hatchery standards, disease management, biosecurity, branding, certification, e-trading and skill development.

The Ministry said startups are increasingly introducing innovations such as drone-enabled logistics, smart feeding systems, digital traceability platforms and mobile applications connecting farmers directly with markets.

India is also strengthening collaborations with Norway and Iceland for knowledge exchange in hatchery management, disease control, sustainable aquaculture systems and export strategies.

The government said cold-water fisheries are no longer a marginal activity confined to remote mountain streams but have evolved into a strategic component of India’s Blue Economy by combining scientific innovation, environmental sustainability, infrastructure development and rural entrepreneurship.