Patna: Fish production in Bihar has witnessed a dramatic transformation over the past two decades, with output surging from 2.68 lakh metric tonnes before 2005 to 8.73 lakh metric tonnes in 2023–24, thanks to focused interventions under the state government’s agriculture road map.
This more-than-threefold increase has made Bihar self-sufficient in fish production, with the annual per capita availability now standing at 6.64 kg. Last year alone, the state produced 5.93 lakh metric tonnes of fish, supported by the release of 61.81 lakh fish seeds into the Ganga and its tributaries.
Key schemes driving this growth include the Chief Minister Integrated Chaur Development Scheme, Reservoir Fisheries Development Scheme, renovation of private ponds, and river restoration programmes, alongside the centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana.
Under the Chaur Development Scheme, 461 hectares of chaur land—seasonal wetlands—have been developed for fish farming, with model-based ponds boosting yields. Fish markets are also being established across 30 blocks under the Chief Minister Matsya Marketing Scheme to support fish farmers with improved sales infrastructure.
The adoption of advanced methods such as biofloc and Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology has further improved output. So far, 439 biofloc and 15 RAS units have been set up across the state.
Economic Transformation Through Fish Farming
The fisheries boom has spurred economic progress, especially in rural areas. In Samastipur district, Jyotsna Singh from Pura village has become a model entrepreneur in fish seed production. She set up a lotus fish seed hatchery in 2023 with a Rs 15 lakh grant and now employs 20 people.
Similarly, Sanjay Sahni from Kochi village earns Rs 12–15 lakh annually by producing 15 tonnes of fish, while inspiring others like Shyam Babu Yadav and Asharfi Sahni to enter the trade, each now earning Rs 15–20 lakh a year.
In Raipur village of Saraiganj block, five residents—Lakshmi Sahni, Sheela Devi, Pramod Kumar Sahni, Rani Kumari and Seeti Devi—are collectively producing 10–15 tonnes of fish annually on eight hectares of chaur land. Their combined earnings range from Rs 13–18 lakh per year.
