Overview

• Union Minister of State for Fisheries George Kurian announced the pilot at a consultative meeting hosted by ICAR–CMFRI in Kochi.
• A detailed project report will be prepared immediately to steer a swift rollout and enable effective monitoring.
• The plan integrates practices such as integrated fish farming, cage culture, biofloc technology and the 'one fish, one paddy' system.
• Fish Farmers Producer Organisations will be formed to strengthen market access, bargaining power and institutional support for local communities.
• Start-up participation and post-harvest work in processing, cleaning, packing and trade will be promoted to create jobs and add value, with strategies tailored separately for Upper (freshwater) and Lower (brackish) Kuttanad and technical backing from ICAR institutes, CMFRI and KVKs.