150 Farmers in Mahasamund Take Up Fish Farming; Dinesh Sets Up Hatchery, Himanshu Boosts Income Through Pond Liners
Raipur, September 2026: Farmers in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district, who once depended primarily on paddy cultivation, are now turning to fish farming as a new source of income and employment. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), around 150 farmers in the district have taken up fish farming to increase their earnings.
While some farmers have constructed ponds for fish farming, others have established hatcheries and pond-liner units and turned the activity into a business. Subsidies available under the scheme have made it easier for farmers to invest in and expand their fisheries-related enterprises.
The story of Birkoni farmer Dinesh Chandrakar is an example of this transformation. Considering the rising cost of traditional farming, he decided to make fish farming an additional source of income. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, he developed a one-hectare pond at a cost of around Rs 7.50 lakh. He subsequently established a fish hatchery spread over 20,000 square feet at a cost of around Rs 14 lakh. Government subsidy helped him expand his business.
Dinesh said fish seed is produced in the hatchery and then released into the pond. Within around eight to nine months, the pond can produce up to 15 tonnes of fish. The cost of producing one kg of fish is around Rs 70 to Rs 80, while it can be sold in the market for Rs 120 to Rs 150 per kg.
The harvested fish is transported to markets through fishermen, providing Dinesh with a substantial additional income alongside agriculture.
Himanshu Turns Fish Farming into a Business
Himanshu Chandrakar of Bakma village also benefited from the scheme and developed fish farming into a business. He established two pond-liner units at a cost of around Rs 28 lakh and received a 60 per cent government subsidy.
According to Himanshu, after meeting all expenses, he earns annual savings of around Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. Fish farming has now become a strong and sustainable source of income for his family.
Employment Opportunities in Villages
The benefits of fish farming are not limited to farmers’ incomes. The activity has also generated local employment opportunities in rural areas.
Workers associated with fish farming in Birkoni said they are now able to find regular employment within their village. Earlier, they had to travel to other places in search of work, but the expansion of fish farming has created year-round employment opportunities locally. An income of around Rs 9,000 per month is helping them meet their family expenses.
Business Expanding from Ponds to Hatcheries
The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is also helping expand fisheries-related infrastructure in the district. New ponds, biofloc units, hatcheries, cold storage facilities and fish-feed manufacturing activities are being promoted.
The objective is not only to increase production but also to connect farmers with the entire fisheries value chain.
Under the scheme, women and beneficiaries belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities 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.
In Mahasamund, farmers are using this support to diversify into fish farming, hatcheries and fish-feed production. Alongside traditional paddy cultivation, fish farming is emerging as a new foundation for additional income, self-employment and rural employment, helping farmers move towards greater self-reliance.
