Tripura’s fisheries sector has recorded significant growth under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with government figures showing increased fish production, expanded aquaculture infrastructure and support for thousands of fish farmers. However, despite these achievements, the state continues to rely heavily on fish imported from other states, highlighting a gap between local production and market demand.
According to the latest Economic Review of Tripura, the fisheries sector has emerged as an important contributor to rural development and livelihood generation. During the financial year 2024-25, the Department of Fisheries invested more than Rs 8,139.77 lakh under PMMSY, benefiting 18,912 individuals through various fisheries-related projects.
Official data shows that nearly 19,000 beneficiaries received support under the scheme. The assistance facilitated the establishment of freshwater hatcheries, construction of fish ponds, promotion of integrated fish farming, expansion of cage culture and adoption of modern technologies such as biofloc fish culture and ornamental fish farming.
The Fisheries Department has cited several achievements under the programme, including the stocking of more than 24.54 lakh fish fingerlings in the Dumboor Reservoir and support for 1,464 cage culture units across the state. Officials believe these initiatives have strengthened the fisheries ecosystem and contributed to increased fish production.
Despite the reported progress, fish markets in Agartala and other parts of Tripura continue to depend substantially on fish supplied from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam. Traders and consumers say imported fish remains a regular feature in local markets throughout the year.
The continued inflow of fish from outside the state has led to discussions among stakeholders about whether local production is currently sufficient to meet the growing demand of consumers. While official figures point to rising production levels, market observations indicate that Tripura has yet to achieve complete self-sufficiency in fish production.
Experts say the success of fisheries development programmes should be assessed not only through production statistics and beneficiary numbers but also through their impact on market supply and income generation for fish farmers.
Kiran Bhowmik, a PhD scholar in Agricultural Economics at Tripura University, said PMMSY has opened up considerable opportunities for fish farmers by improving infrastructure and encouraging the adoption of modern aquaculture practices. However, he stressed that greater financial support from the Central Government would be necessary to fully realise the sector’s potential.
“PMMSY has created substantial opportunities for fish farmers by improving infrastructure and encouraging modern aquaculture practices. Greater financial support from the Central Government is necessary to fully unlock the sector’s potential,” Bhowmik observed.
Tripura has significant untapped potential for aquaculture expansion, particularly in rural and tribal areas. They argue that increased allocations under PMMSY could help create additional ponds, hatcheries, feed units and marketing infrastructure, enabling more farmers to engage in commercial fish production.
Stakeholders have also called for stronger awareness campaigns in remote areas, improved monitoring at the district level, regular impact assessments and enhanced technical support to ensure long-term sustainability of fisheries assets created under the scheme. They further emphasised the importance of market linkages, entrepreneurship development, skill enhancement programmes and scientific fish farming practices to improve productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.
While official reports present an encouraging picture of growth in Tripura’s fisheries sector, the state’s continued dependence on imported fish suggests that further efforts will be required to bridge the gap between production and consumption. Experts maintain that higher investment, stronger implementation and wider outreach among fish farmers will be essential for achieving genuine fish self-sufficiency and sustainable growth in the years ahead.
