Tripura Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das reviewed the expanding cage culture project at Dumboor Lake, highlighting its role in boosting fish production, empowering tribal communities, reducing imports, and advancing the state’s goal of self-reliance through PMMSY and NABARD-supported initiatives.
Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das on Tuesday reviewed the ongoing cage culture project at Dumboor Lake, hailing it as a milestone initiative that is reshaping fish production and livelihood opportunities for the local tribal and fishing communities. The minister described the program as one of the most transformative fisheries interventions undertaken in Tripura in recent years, aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability, economic empowerment, and self-reliance in fish production.
During his field visit, Minister Das inspected several operational cage units installed across the vast expanse of the lake. He emphasized that the innovative project, jointly implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Tripura, and premier research institutions such as the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), has already begun delivering promising results for the state’s freshwater aquaculture sector. According to him, the project’s integrated approach reflects the government’s commitment to improving productivity while strengthening the livelihoods of the region’s traditional fishers.
He noted that Tripura’s dependency on fish brought in from other states has been a longstanding challenge. With consumption rising yearly, the state imports a significant amount of fish to meet local demand. However, the minister asserted that the Dumboor Lake project is strategically designed to reduce this dependency over the coming years by fostering sustainable freshwater production practices. “This cage culture initiative will play a vital role not only in increasing fish production and meeting the demand across the state, but also in making more than 1,512 fish farmers in the region economically self-reliant,” he said.
The cage culture project is supported by flagship central government schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), along with funding assistance from NABARD. Under these programs, the state has so far sanctioned more than 1,500 cages for the lake, with continuous expansion expected to continue through late 2025. In addition to cage installations, the government has been actively providing equipment, fish seed, feed, and training support to beneficiaries.
Cage culture, a method of rearing fish inside netted enclosures placed in reservoirs, allows farmers to control feeding, growth, and health conditions more efficiently than in open waters. The cages installed in Dumboor Lake are constructed using bamboo, wood, and metal frames and covered with durable nets to ensure safe rearing. Presently, species such as common carp, Pabda (Tripura’s state fish), Magur, and Singhi catfish are being cultivated in these enclosures. These varieties have been selected based on their strong market demand, suitability for cage farming, and higher survival rates.
Minister Das highlighted that the state government is not only focused on increasing production but also on ensuring that fish farmers receive adequate support to sustain their operations. Beneficiaries are being provided with free cages, equipment, and fingerlings, along with specialized training programs to help them adopt scientific fish farming techniques. Financial incentives, including monthly allowances during the monsoon ban period—when fishing activities are restricted—are also being offered to protect the livelihoods of fishers.
Addressing the fish farming community, the minister urged more individuals, especially young entrepreneurs from tribal regions, to join cage culture initiatives. He emphasized that broader participation would not only uplift local families but also play a crucial role in achieving the state’s long-standing goal of self-sufficiency in fish production. “Our aim is to create a sustainable ecosystem where fish farmers can thrive, markets remain stable, and consumers have access to quality fish at affordable prices,” he said.
The minister was accompanied by Fisheries Secretary Deepa D. Nair, senior department officials, technical experts, and local representatives during the visit. They interacted with beneficiaries, inspected infrastructural facilities, and reviewed the progress of ongoing developmental works around the lake.
Officials stated that the government intends to scale up the project further by introducing new high-value fish species, improving feed quality, and enhancing cold-chain and marketing infrastructure.
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With Dumboor Lake emerging as a major hub for aquaculture innovation, the initiative is expected to substantially boost the state’s fish production index over the next few years.
