UP Fisheries Dept guidance helps Aslam Khan of Barabanki transform his life

Lucknow, Aug 2025 : Aslam Khan, a fish farmer from Barabanki, has turned his fortunes around with support from Uttar Pradesh’s Fisheries department schemes. After a setback in banana farming, he switched to fishery and secured first rank in fish farming in 2018. Aslam credits his success to the double-engine government that backed him through welfare initiatives.ent that made him ‘Atmanirbhar’

Aslam Khan (40), son of Jawwad Khan of Bakrapur village in Barabanki, has now become an inspiration for the youth. A graduate, Aslam started banana production in 2014 on eight acres of ancestral land. He continued in the business till 2016. Initially, Aslam earned well, but later he noticed a downward trend in his earning and ultimately closed the business, looking out for more opportunities.

In his quest for a fresh beginning, Aslam had an opportunity to visit the fish farm of Mohammad Asif Siddiqui of Gangwara village in Barabanki. Intrigued by fish farming, Aslam began learning the trade and started with three ponds on 27,000 sq ft of land, raising Pangasius fish.

Initially, Aslam suffered losses in his business due to poor fish seeds and lack of knowledge. Without losing hope, he again stocked his ponds with 35,000 Pangasius fingerlings and produced 21 tons of fish within six months. Each fish weighed about 700 grams. The first produce from his farm earned an income of Rs 8,40,000. Encouraged by his achievement, in 2018 Aslam made another pond on a 1-acre land in which he kept Indian Major Carp fish along with Pangasius.

At present, Aslam operates large-scale fish farming on eight acres with 24 ponds and two nurseries. This year, he stocked three lakh Pangasius fish seeds, of which 2.20 lakh have already yielded 162 tonnes of fish sold.

Currently, Aslam’s farm has 40,000 fish, each weighing 400–500 grams, ready for sale in December. Since January 2019, he has also been a dealer of ABIS supplementary fish feed, now supplying over 350 farmers across Barabanki, Lucknow, Sitapur, Unnao, Ayodhya, Bahraich, and Gonda.

Ascribing his success to the support he received from the state fisheries department, Aslam said that the handholding by the Fisheries department has been commendable throughout his journey.
Now, a thriving fish farmer, Aslam was inspired to get involved in other activities related to fisheries. In 2018, Aslam achieved first place in fish farming in Barabanki district.

Since 2017, Pangasius farming is being done in about 25 hectares in Nindoora block, while Aslam is providing direct employment to atleast ten people. These people assist him in fish farm operations and feed distribution.

Aslam Khan is associated with approximately 350-400 fish farmers and helping them in producing good yields. He has also installed a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) on his farm. The RAS unit will help Aslam in rearing Pangasius seeds during winters, so that by February and March, fish seed can be provided to other farmers. To further benefit the farmers, Aslam also aims to register a farmer producer organisation (FPO).

N. S. Rahmani, Director, Fisheries Department, Uttar Pradesh said, “Through fish farming, young men and women are scripting new success stories that showcase the true strength of central and state government schemes. These stories prove that change is happening at the grassroots. Under the leadership of the state government, the benefits of every scheme are reaching the communities and every household. By embracing opportunities like fish farming, people are not only becoming Atmanirbhar, but are also driving the economic growth of the entire state.”