Six Punjab Shrimp Farmers Invited as Special Guests for R-Day Celebrations

Fazilka : Six shrimp farmers from Punjab and their families have been invited as special guests to the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi from January 25 to 27. The invitation, extended by the Department of Fisheries, highlights their achievements in shrimp farming under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

The invitees include Harmeet Singh (Fazilka), Robindeep Kaur (Mansa), Kamaljit Singh and Narinderjit Kaur (Ludhiana), Rupinder Kaur (Muktsar), and Sukhraj Singh Sandhu (Mohali). These progressive farmers received subsidies ranging from 40% to 60% under PMMSY to launch their ventures.

Rupinder Kaur, a 30-year-old graduate from Muktsar, shared her excitement, saying it’s the first time anyone from her village has been invited to such a prestigious event. She and her husband began shrimp farming on four acres in 2011, later expanding to 12 acres across two villages.

Punjab Fisheries Director Jasvir Singh highlighted that over ₹26 crores in subsidies have been disbursed to more than 500 beneficiaries under the scheme. Muktsar district leads the state with 400 acres dedicated to shrimp farming, leveraging saline water from waterlogged areas.

This recognition underscores the growing success of Punjab’s shrimp farmers and the impact of government initiatives in fostering sustainable aquaculture.