Fish Farming Emerging as a Strong Source of Additional Income Alongside Traditional Agriculture
Raipur, September 2026: In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of empowering villages, the poor and farmers, the Central Government’s Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is proving to be a boon for farmers in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district. Moving beyond traditional paddy cultivation, around 150 farmers in the district are now creating new avenues for income and livelihood through modern activities such as fish farming, hatcheries and pond liners. Government subsidies and the development of basic infrastructure are rapidly creating new opportunities for self-employment and employment in rural areas.
Dinesh Chandrakar of Birkoni Sets an Example
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana has transformed the economic condition of thousands of farmers and fish farmers across the country through modern technologies, financial assistance and subsidies.
Facing rising costs in traditional agriculture, Dinesh Chandrakar, a resident of Birkoni, turned towards fish farming. Under the scheme, he developed a one-hectare fish pond at a cost of around Rs 7.50 lakh and established a fish hatchery spread over 20,000 square feet at a cost of Rs 14 lakh.
Production and Income
The fish seed produced at the hatchery is released into the pond, resulting in approximately 15 tonnes of fish production within eight to nine months. Despite the production cost being around Rs 70 to Rs 80 per kg, the fish can be sold in the market for Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg, providing him with a substantial profit.
Himanshu Chandrakar Finds a Sustainable Source of Income
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, assistance is provided for projects including pond construction, biofloc units, fish seed hatcheries, cold storage facilities and feed plants.
Himanshu Chandrakar, a farmer from Bakma village, established two pond-liner units at a total cost of around Rs 28 lakh. After receiving a 60 per cent government subsidy and meeting all expenses, he is earning net annual savings of around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh.
Boost to Rural Economy and Workers
Fish farming has benefited not only unit operators but also local workers. Labourers in Birkoni said they no longer need to migrate outside the village in search of employment. Instead, they are getting regular, year-round work within the village itself.
With an income of around Rs 9,000 per month, the workers said it has become easier to support their families and meet household expenses.
Key Features and Provisions
The scheme promotes the development of basic infrastructure through the construction of new ponds, biofloc units, hatcheries, cold storage facilities and fish-feed manufacturing units.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, beneficiaries belonging to women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories are eligible for subsidies of up to 60 per cent, while beneficiaries from the general category can receive subsidies of up to 40 per cent.
For farmers in Mahasamund who have traditionally depended on paddy cultivation, fish farming has now emerged as a new symbol of self-reliance, prosperity and rural development.
