Make Madhya Pradesh the No. 1 State in Fish Production
Dependence on Bengal To End With the Construction of Modern Hatcheries For Fish Seed Production
Construction of A State-of-the-Art Aqua Park Underway in Bhopal At a Cost of Rs. 40 Crore
Virtual Bhoomi-Pujan for 3,360-cage project At a Cost of Rs.92 Crore, At Indira Sagar Dam Held
CM Performs Bhoomi-Pujan for 453 Smart Fish Parlours to be Built At a Cost of Rs. 22.65 crore
Startups and Modern Machinery Being Adopted in Fish Farming
Nishadraj was the First to Recognise the Divinity of Shri Ram: CM Dr. Yadav
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav Addresses State-Level Nishadraj Sammelan in Ujjain
Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that Maharaj Nishadraj, the friend of Lord Shri Ram, was the first to recognise his divine nature. He praised the courage of the fishing community, stating that they risk their lives to cultivate in water—a truly brave endeavor. Fish and fishermen have shared a centuries-old bond. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, various welfare schemes are being implemented for fisherfolk through the Fishermen Welfare Board in Madhya Pradesh. The state government is providing employment opportunities to youth, and fish farming is now being recognised as an industry, with access to the same facilities as other industrial sectors.
CM Dr. Yadav performed Bhoomi-Pujan for 453 Smart Fish Parlours to be built at a cost of Rs. 22.65 crore, and virtually laid the foundation for a Rs. 92 crore, 3,360-cage project at the Indira Sagar Dam. He also encouraged the fishing community to strive for a better quality of life.
The Chief Minister was addressing the State-Level Nishadraj Sammelan and Training Program held on Saturday at the Kalidas Sanskrit Academy campus in Ujjain. He also visited an exhibition on fishery-related technologies. The conference began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp and floral tributes to the statue of Bhagwan Nishadraj.
CM Dr. Yadav emphasised that fish farming is no longer a traditional practice alone, but an emerging modern industry. Increased investment and production in this sector will create more employment opportunities for youth. He mentioned the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art Aqua Park in Bhopal, costing Rs. 40 crore. The government will also provide subsidies to fisherfolk to support their work. He pointed out that the irrigation area in the state has expanded significantly under the current government—from 7 lakh hectares during the previous government to 55 lakh hectares now. With the Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal (PKC) River linking project, irrigation coverage is expected to reach 100 lakh hectares, which will benefit fishery as well. Several new ponds will also be developed.
430 Motorcycles Equipped with Ice Boxes Distributed to Fishermen
CM Dr. Yadav announced that over 3 lakh fish cages will be installed in various reservoirs, including Indira Sagar. He also distributed 430 motorcycles equipped with ice boxes to fishermen. Currently, fish farming is practiced on 4.4 lakh hectares in Madhya Pradesh, with fish production reaching 3.81 lakh metric tonnes in 2024–25. More than 2 lakh fish farmers are registered in the state, with a significant number of women actively involved in the sector. The Chief Minister shared that a Rs. 217 crore project is underway to build modern hatcheries for fish seed production, which will eliminate the state’s dependency on Bengal for fish seed. The government is working to make Madhya Pradesh a leading state in both milk and fish production. With time, the use of modern machines and fishery startups is increasing across the state.
Chief Minister Dr. Yadav reaffirmed that, in line with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Modi, the state government is committed to the welfare of all communities. He noted that today was also the day for transferring funds into the accounts of Ladli Behnas, coinciding with the upcoming festival of Raksha Bandhan. The Chief Minister also announced a state-wide De-addiction Campaign from July 15 to 30 and administered a pledge to the gathering to stay away from addiction and unnecessary expenditure. He emphasised the need to adapt to changing times.
Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Minister Shri Narayan Singh Panwar said the state government is making every possible effort for the welfare of fish farmers. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Yadav, many welfare schemes are being implemented. He said that after the formation of the new government, steps have been taken to bring the underprivileged fishing community into the mainstream. Fishermen are now being issued Fishermen Credit Cards to support their business needs. By 2028, the Fishermen Welfare Department aims to achieve several key milestones.
Chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Fishermen Welfare Board, Shri Sitaram Batham, noted that Nishad Manglik Bhavans have been established in several districts. Expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister, he said that under Dr. Yadav’s visionary and sensitive leadership, initiatives that had been pending for years are now being accomplished within months.
The State-Level Nishadraj Sammelan was attended by Ujjain district in-charge minister Shri Gautam Tetwal, Member of Parliament Shri Anil Firojiya, MLA Shri Anil Jain Kalukheda, and a large number of fish farmers and public representatives.
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