Haryana’s push for agricultural diversification saw a moment of pride today as the state’s top honors in aquaculture were bestowed upon a visionary farmer from the Jhajjar district.
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Pioneering Success: The awarded farmer from Jhajjar has been a trailblazer in utilizing brackish water (saline water) for shrimp and fish farming. In a region where traditional crops often fail due to soil salinity, this farmer managed to generate a multi-fold increase in income by adopting modern intensive fish farming techniques.
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Technology Adoption: The Fisheries Department noted that the winner was early to adopt Solar-powered aeration systems and automated feeding, which reduced operational costs significantly. “Our goal was to prove that waste-land can become gold-land through fisheries,” the awardee remarked at the ceremony.
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State Support: During the function, officials highlighted that Haryana currently ranks among the top in India for fish productivity per hectare. The state government offers up to 60% subsidy for women and SC/ST farmers, and 40% for others to set up fish units under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
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Expanding Footprint: The success in Jhajjar is part of a larger trend; Haryana has expanded its fish farming area to over 45,000 acres, with a special focus on districts like Rohtak, Sonipat, and Jhajjar.
Community Sentiment
“This award is a win for all of us in Jhajjar. We used to struggle with saline water that ruined our wheat and mustard. Seeing one of our own get recognized at the state level shows that fisheries is a respectable and highly profitable career. Many young boys in our village are now looking to skip city jobs and start their own ponds,” said a fellow farmer from the same block.
