Reeling in Success: Trout Farming Transforms Pir Panjal

Unemployed youth in the Pir Panjal range are turning to trout farming under the PMMSY scheme, leveraging the cold region's ideal conditions for Rainbow Trout cultivation. The initiative bridges infrastructure gaps, offers high-quality fish seed, and drives economic growth by turning job seekers into job providers.

In the chill of the Pir Panjal range, a transformative initiative is taking root. Across Rajouri's high-altitude blocks—Budhal, Kotranka, Thannamandi, and Darhal—unemployed youths are embracing trout fish farming under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), a scheme designed to exploit these cold terrains for economic rejuvenation.

Hatcheries play a pivotal role, supplying premium fish seed and bridging the gap between public infrastructure and private entrepreneurship. Abdul Quyoom, Field Officer at Budhal's Trout Fish Farming Hatchery, calls on more locals to tap into the scheme's potential, underscoring the blend of opportunity and support it provides.

Gaurav, a Phalni Trout Hatchery employee, highlighted the scheme's success in offering income sources to the unemployed and expanding private farming units. Awareness programs further these goals. Praising the initiative, Mohd Bashir, a trout farmer, thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for providing an economic lifeline in trout farming, a sector thriving on the Pir Panjal's natural advantages.

Amidst glacial streams perfect for trout cultivation, four factors drive this change: environmental suitability, HADP support, financial assistance from PMMSY, and robust market demand. By fashioning sustainable businesses along mountain streams, this enterprise not only bolsters local economies but also enriches the Rajouri markets with high-nutrient trout, serving a dual role in local tourism and nutrition.

(With inputs from agencies.)