Lok Sabha Question No. 5257 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-24
Subject: Compensation to Fish Farmers
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Virendra Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. †5257 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24 TH MARCH, 2026

## Compensation to Fish Farmers

## †5257. Shri Virendra Singh:

Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to state:

- (a) whether fisheries fall under the category of agricultural industry and the amount of assistance provided by the Government to fish farmers for fisheries every year;
- (b) whether  the  fish  farmers  suffer  heavy  losses  due  to  the  outbreak  of  various diseases among fish, if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether the Government has any proposals to provide compensation to farmers for such losses, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## (SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)

(a):    Fisheries  considered  as  one  of  the  agri-allied  sectors  in  the  country,  is  a  State subject  included  in  7 th  Schedule  of  the  Constitution  of  India.  The  Government  of  India supplement  the  efforts  of  States/UTs  through  various  schemes  and  programme  for holistic  development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  including  welfare  of  fishers  and  fish farmers.  The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and Dairying,  Government  of  India  during  the  last  five  years  (FY  2020-21  to  2024-25)  has taken up several initiatives including implementing various schemes  for holistic development  of  fisheries  and  aquaculture  in  the  country.    The  fisheries  development schemes implemented include (i) Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), (ii) Fisheries  and  Aquaculture  Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (FIDF)  and  (iii)  Pradhan Mantri  Matsya  Kisan  Samridhi  Sah  Yojana  (PM-MKSSY).  In  addition,  Kisan  Credit Card(KCC)  facility  is  also  provided  to  fishers  and  fish  farmers  to  meet  their  working capital requirements.

The  Department  of  Fisheries,  Ministry  of  Fisheries,  Animal  Husbandry  and  Dairying, during the last five years (FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25) and current year (2025-26) has accorded approvals to fisheries development proposals worth of Rs.29,357.37 crore of various States Governments, Union Territories and other End Implementing Agencies.

This includes projects worth of Rs.21,733.91 crore approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya  Sampada  Yojana  (PMMSY)  and  projects  worth  of  Rs  7623.46  crore  under Fisheries  and  Aquaculture Infrastructure  Development  Fund  (FIDF).  Additionally,  Kisan Credit Cards(KCCs) to 5,04,848 fishers and fish farmers with loan amount of Rs.3837.80 crore  have  been  issued  so  far  to  meet  their  working  capital  requirements.  These initiatives  contributed  towards  enhancement  of  fish  production,  productivity,  quality thereby enhancing the income of fishers and fish farmers

(b) and (c): The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying,  Government  of  India  is  implementing  National  Surveillance  Programme  for Aquatic  Animal  Diseases  (NSPAAD)  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Sampada  Yojana (PMMSY). The programme has pan-India coverage and involvement of State Fisheries Departments (SFDs). The programme is coordinated by ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR), Lucknow. ICAR-NBFGR reported that production loss due to diseases is estimated to be Rs.12912.20 crore which include Rs.7520.9 crores due to fish diseases and Rs. 5391.3 crores due to shrimp diseases in Indian aquaculture sector.

The Department of Fisheries, Government of India under the Central Sector Subscheme namely the  Pradhan  Mantri  Matsya  Kisan  Samridhi  Sah-Yojana  (PM-MKSSY) provides  for  one-time  incentive  for  purchase  of  aquaculture  insurance  by  the  farmers. The one-time incentive for aquaculture insurance is provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid with a ceiling up to ₹25,000 per hectare, limiting  ₹1  lakh  per farmer for farms upto 4 hectares water spread area (WSA). For the intensive aquaculture system like cage culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS), bio-floc, and raceways etc., incentive for aquaculture insurance is also provided at the rate of 40% of the premium paid  with  a  ceiling  up  to  ₹1  lakh  per  farmer  for  1800  m3  for  intensive  aquaculture systems.  The  beneficiaries  of  SC/ST  and  women  are  provided  an  additional  10%  of incentive.  Under  Aquaculture  Insurance,  insurance  policies  for  636.04  ha  have  been covered against which 56 beneficiaries covering 162.21 ha have availed the One-Time Incentive (OTI) with an amount of Rs. 20.08 lakh.

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