By TC News Desk
Agartala, 18th May 2025: Tripura Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das on Sunday announced a significant boost in the state’s fish production, revealing a 5,000 metric tonne (MT) increase over the past three years. He also said that Rs 38 crore has been sanctioned to establish a modern fish market in Agartala.
The minister made the announcement during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Integrated Aqua Park and the inauguration of the Fish Festival at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala. Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, was also present at the event.
“Due to several reasons, the foundation stone laying ceremony was delayed. But today, in the presence of the Union Minister, the project finally takes off,” Das said.
Highlighting the high demand for fish in Tripura, the minister noted that nearly 98% of the state’s population consumes fish. “The current demand stands at 1.17 lakh MT, while our production is at 86,000 MT—leaving a shortfall of 31,000 MT. This gap is met through imports from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bangladesh,” he said. He added that Tripura has the potential to produce up to 1.5 lakh MT of fish, and praised central government schemes, especially the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, for driving recent growth.
“Most households with ponds cultivate fish for personal consumption rather than commercial purposes. We need to change that mindset. Fisheries officials must train and motivate people to contribute to the state’s fish supply and generate income,” the minister said.
Das also informed that the state is focusing on utilizing unutilized water bodies for fish cultivation. “We’ve taken up three projects to engage Scheduled Caste community villages in fish farming. Apart from the Rs 38 crore project at Gol Bazaar, another Rs 10 crore will be invested in developing fishery infrastructure in Rajnagar village and Unakoti district,” he added.
