Tripura’s Khowai district witnesses a remarkable rural entrepreneurship success as fisheries farmer Sanat Kumar Debbarma transforms aquaculture into a profitable venture with support from CML-Tata Trust. Through training, technical guidance, and hatchery development, the young entrepreneur now generates sustainable income while inspiring rural youth across the state.
The inspiring journey of 37-year-old fisheries entrepreneur Sanat Kumar Debbarma from Banshiram Bari village under Tulasikhar RD Block in Tripura’s Khowai district stands as a testament to how skill development, institutional support, and determination can transform rural livelihoods and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Coming from an Arts academic background, Sanat Kumar Debbarma never imagined that fisheries would one day become the foundation of his successful entrepreneurial venture. What began as an interest during his college years has now evolved into a thriving fisheries enterprise spread across seven ponds covering nearly eight kani of land. Today, he is recognized as one of the successful fish farmers in the region, generating an annual turnover of approximately Rs. 5 to 6 lakh.
Sanat’s entrepreneurial journey received a significant boost in 2015 when he became associated with the livelihood development initiatives implemented by the Centre for Microfinance & Livelihood (CML), an associate organization of Tata Trusts. Through the initiative, he received extensive fisheries training, technical guidance, and opportunities to participate in exposure visits to reputed institutions including the College of Fisheries in Tripura, ICAR institutions, and other fisheries training centres located in different states.
The knowledge and practical skills gained through these programmes played a crucial role in shaping his future. Continuous mentoring, modern aquaculture training, and regular monitoring by the CML-Tata Trust project enabled him to adopt scientific fish farming practices and convert fisheries into a profitable and sustainable enterprise.
Over the years, Sanat expanded his operations and strengthened his position within the fisheries sector. His dedication and leadership qualities also earned him a place as a Board of Director (BoD) of the Khowai Khabaksa Matsyajibi Samabay Samiti (KKMSS), a cooperative society functioning under the supervision and support of CML.
A major turning point in his entrepreneurial journey came during 2019-20 when he established a fish hatchery with support from CML-Tata Trust. The hatchery specializes in producing fingerlings of Indian Major Carps (IMC), helping meet the increasing demand for quality fish seed among fish farmers in the region. The facility has become an important source of fingerlings, yearlings, and table fish for local markets, contributing to both his income and the development of the local fisheries sector.
Sharing details of his business achievements, Sanat Kumar Debbarma revealed that during the current year he earned nearly Rs. 1 lakh from the sale of around 30,000 fingerlings. Additionally, he generated approximately Rs. 1.5 lakh by selling nearly 15,000 yearlings and earned around Rs. 3 lakh through the sale of 1,000 kilograms of table fish. These figures highlight the commercial viability of fisheries entrepreneurship when supported by appropriate training and technical expertise.
Experts believe that Sanat’s success story reflects the positive impact of capacity-building initiatives in rural areas. They emphasize that expanding such programmes, improving access to credit facilities, and strengthening technical support services can help create many more successful entrepreneurs across Tripura.
Sanat Kumar Debbarma’s achievements have become a source of inspiration for aspiring rural entrepreneurs, particularly young people seeking self-employment opportunities. His journey demonstrates that with proper guidance, institutional support, and a willingness to learn, rural youth can build sustainable enterprises that contribute to economic growth, self-reliance, and community development.
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As Tripura continues to promote livelihood generation and entrepreneurship, success stories like that of Sanat Kumar Debbarma serve as powerful examples of how targeted interventions and skill development programmes can transform lives and strengthen the rural economy through sustainable fisheries development.
