New Delhi: Government of India has approved fisheries development proposals from Odisha worth Rs 1,301.18 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana since the 2020 to 2021 financial year. This total includes a Central share of Rs 484.64 crore aimed at bolstering the state’s fisheries and aquaculture value chain.
Among the major projects approved is an Integrated Aqua Park at Basantapur in Sambalpur district, which received the green light in January 2025 at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore. Initial preparatory work, including land acquisition, issuing the letter of intent, and building access roads and boundary walls, is complete. Construction is currently underway on hatcheries, grow-out ponds, processing units, research facilities, and an effluent treatment plant.
Additionally, approval has been granted for a state-of-the-art wholesale fish market at Pandara in Bhubaneswar, with a total outlay of Rs 59.13 crore. Designed to house 44 wholesale units and 99 retail units, the market will feature renewable energy systems and rainwater harvesting infrastructure to reduce environmental impact and lower operational costs. Land reclamation work for the site is finished.
To support working capital needs, the Kisan Credit Card facility has been available to fish farmers since financial year 2018 to 2019. The Central government is working alongside the Department of Financial Services and State Level Bankers Committees to promote uptake, while the Odisha government conducts outreach through Matsya O Pranee Sampad Melas and local community meetings.
To ease the financial burden on farmers, the state provides an extra interest subvention of 4 percent on loans up to Rs 1 lakh and 2 percent on loans between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh. These subsidies make loans up to Rs 1 lakh interest-free and lower the effective interest rate to 2 percent for loans between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 3 lakh.
Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh shared these details in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.