Khargone (Madhya Pradesh): The district has surpassed its fish production targets in the past year, with production of 8,425 tons of fish against a target of 7,318 tons. The achievement shows a significant growth in aquaculture and generated employment for thousands of local fishermen. Assistant director of fisheries said that there are 428 rural and 156 irrigation ponds in Khargone district, covering 7,110 hectares of water area. From these ponds, 3,350 members of 84 fishermen cooperative societies are getting employment through fish farming.
Khargone district is self-sufficient in fish seed production and from here fish seed is supplied to other districts of the division. There is one government hatchery and three private-sector hatcheries for fish seed production in the district.
Advanced species of fish seed are produced in these hatcheries. In past year, against the target of producing 1,330 lakh standard fry fish seed, 1,345 lakh standard fry fish seed has been produced in the district.
The department had given the district a target of 7,318 tons of fish production, against this target, 8,425 tons of fish have been produced in the district.
Government support has been instrumental in this success, with initiatives including distribution of credit cards to 2,000 fish farmers. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, grants totalling Rs 1.36 crore have funded various infrastructure improvements, including pond construction, insulated vehicles and bio floc tank construction.
A notable initiative involves leasing 59 Amrit Sarovar ponds to women's groups under the Ajeevika Mission, providing employment to 395 women. The district has also diversified into shrimp farming at the Dejla Devada reservoir, where fishermen produced 2.10 metric tonnes of shrimp last year, creating additional revenue streams.
