Agartala, May 19, 2025: Tripura has registered a growth of 5,000 metric tonnes in fish production over the past three years, Fisheries Minister Sudhangshu Das announced on Sunday. He also revealed that a modern fish market will be set up in Agartala’s Gol Bazaar at an estimated cost of Rs 38 crore.

The announcement was made during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Integrated Aqua Park and the inauguration of the Fish Festival held at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan in Agartala. The event was graced by Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh.

Referring to delays in the project, Minister Das said, “The foundation stone laying had been postponed earlier due to various reasons, but today, in the presence of the Union Minister, we are glad to officially commence the project.”

Highlighting the high demand for fish in the state, Das noted that 98% of Tripura’s population consumes fish. “Our annual demand is 1.17 lakh MT, but local production stands at only 86,000 MT, creating a deficit of 31,000 MT. This gap is currently being bridged through imports from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Bangladesh,” he said.

The Minister stressed Tripura’s potential to increase fish production to 1.5 lakh MT and credited central schemes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), for the recent boost in output. He urged the Union Minister to extend the scheme’s duration.

Das also encouraged fish farmers to look beyond self-consumption and contribute to the state’s supply chain. “Most people with ponds produce fish for personal use. We need to train and motivate them to think commercially,” he said.

In addition to the Agartala market, Das announced investments of Rs 10 crore for fishery-related development in Rajnagar village and Unakoti. He also shared that three new projects have been launched to involve Scheduled Caste communities in fish cultivation and that previously unused water bodies are being brought under aquaculture initiatives.