Tripura government is reviving abandoned waterbodies to boost fish farming, ensuring self-sufficiency in fish production. Minister Sudhangshu Das and MLA Mina Rani Sarkar emphasized enhancing fish supply, supporting flood-affected farmers, and uplifting local fishers’ income through sustainable aquaculture initiatives and government-backed schemes across the state.
The Government of Tripura has intensified its efforts to transform abandoned waterbodies across the state into productive fish farming zones, with the aim of meeting rising fish demand and uplifting the socio-economic condition of local fish farmers.
In a significant step under this initiative, Minister of SC Welfare, Fisheries & ARDD Department, Sudhangshu Das, along with Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) Mayor Deepak Majumdar, Badharghat MLA Mina Rani Sarkar, and senior departmental officials, visited a long-abandoned large waterbody located at Haima Ra Tilla in Ward No. 37 under Agartala Municipal Corporation. During the inspection, the minister directed officials to expedite measures to make the site suitable for scientific fish farming at the earliest.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Das said that the government is committed to making Tripura self-sufficient in fish production. “Our primary goal is to ensure adequate fish supply in the state by enhancing production while also securing the financial and social development of genuine fish farmers. The department is consistently working to revive abandoned waterbodies and bring them under sustainable aquaculture practices,” he emphasized.
Support for Flood-Affected Fish Farmers
Earlier in the day, Minister Das also attended a program organized by the Fisheries Department at Muktadhara Auditorium in Agartala, where financial assistance and essential fishing equipment were distributed to fish farmers who had been severely affected by the devastating floods in West Tripura district last year.
He highlighted that both the Central and State Governments are jointly implementing multiple schemes to provide long-term support to the fisheries sector. These include subsidies, training programs, equipment distribution, and infrastructural development aimed at encouraging farmers to adopt modern fish farming methods.
“Fish farming not only provides nutritious food for the people of Tripura but also creates a sustainable livelihood opportunity for rural communities. That is why the government has prioritized reviving abandoned ponds, lakes, and waterbodies that have remained unused for years,” Das added.
MLA Mina Rani Sarkar’s Constituency Efforts
Joining the initiative, Badharghat MLA Mina Rani Sarkar conducted an inspection of abandoned ponds under Ward No. 37 in her constituency, accompanied by Mayor Deepak Majumdar, Ward Councilors Bapi Das, Tushar Kanti Bhattacharya, and Nitu Guha, along with local leaders and residents from the Ramnagar and Badharghat areas.
MLA Sarkar reiterated the government’s vision to make Tripura self-reliant in fish production. “By reviving neglected waterbodies through the Fisheries Department’s projects, not only will fish supply in the state increase, but local fish farmers will also become economically stronger. This will significantly contribute to rural prosperity and reduce dependency on imports,” she stated.
Boosting Fish Supply and Farmers’ Prosperity
Tripura currently imports a large portion of its fish requirements from neighboring states. The government’s strategy aims to reverse this trend by utilizing every possible resource within the state. According to officials, once abandoned ponds are converted into functional fish farms, local production capacity will see a significant rise, narrowing the demand-supply gap.
The Fisheries Department has already undertaken several pilot projects across districts, which have shown encouraging results. Farmers who adopted scientific fish farming practices with government support have reported higher yields and increased income. Encouraged by these outcomes, the state is expanding the program on a wider scale.
A Vision of Self-Sufficiency
Minister Sudhangshu Das reaffirmed that the government is determined to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production within the next few years. He noted that the department is working on a mission mode to revive water resources, extend support to fish farmers, and promote aquaculture as a key pillar of Tripura’s rural economy.
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As the initiative gathers pace, the revival of abandoned waterbodies is expected not only to strengthen Tripura’s food security but also to open up sustainable livelihood opportunities for thousands of families across the state.
