India's priority is building strong fisheries & aquaculture value chains

INDIA IS THE second-largest fish-producing country in the world. It is also the second-largest nation globally in aquaculture production. The country has witnessed a 103% increase in national fish production since 2013-14, reaching a record 195 lakh tonnes in 2024-25.

- ABHILAKSH LIKHI

Seafood exports have doubled to ₹60,523 crore. The fisheries and aquaculture sector is therefore contributing to the economic growth of the country with a sustained annual average growth rate of over 8%. This has been made possible through cumulative investments of ₹38,572 crore over the last ten years for infrastructure development, technology infusion, and promotion of sustainable practices.

To carry this momentum forward, strengthening end-to-end fisheries and aquaculture value chains is of paramount importance. Approximately three crore fishers and fish farmers are associated with these value chains in the inland and marine ecosystems of the country.

Experts have emphasised the need to digitally formalise the last-mile presence of these stakeholders. The Government of India has recently set up the first-ever National Fisheries Digital Portal (NFDP), which is currently facilitating a national registry of fishers and fish farmers. It is also enabling access to affordable institutional credit, incentives for fish crop insurance, and performance grants for the creation of value chain efficiencies in aquaculture micro-enterprises.

Another key intervention in this regard is the strengthening of business planning for collectives such as fisheries cooperatives.