The Union Government will launch a pilot project for the Kuttanad region in Kerala, aiming to strengthen livelihood opportunities of fish farmers. This was announced at a consultative meeting at the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in Kochi.
The initiative is expected to bring together modern and traditional methods of aquaculture. Plans include integrated fish farming, cage fish farming, the sustainable “one fish one paddy” model, and biofloc fish farming.
Officials said the project would be split into separate fresh water and brackish water activities, considering the different conditions in upper and lower Kuttanad.
Fish Farmers Producers Organisations (FFPOs) will be formed under the project to help local communities organise better and manage operations more efficiently. Training programmes are also on the cards, designed to equip farmers with the skills needed for aquaculture and allied practices.
The project is also expected to encourage startups to enter the fish sector, especially in areas such as processing, cleaning, packing and trade. This could potentially create jobs and add more value to the produce, officials suggested.
Institutions such as ICAR research centres, central agencies and Krishi Vigyan Kendras will provide scientific and technical support. A detailed project report will be prepared soon, with the aim of ensuring faster implementation.
At the meeting, Union Minister of State George Kurian said the main goal was to improve livelihoods of the farmers in Kuttanad. Fisheries Development Commissioner Mohammed Koya, CMFRI's director Grinson George, CMFRI's principal scientist Imelda Joseph and BJP Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar attended the discussions.
