NEW DELHI: 23 July 2026: The Centre has outlined a series of measures to improve the welfare of shrimp farmers, including enhanced disease surveillance, aquaculture insurance, affordable credit and investments in fisheries infrastructure, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying informed Parliament.
In a written reply, Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) said the government is implementing several flagship programmes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF) and the earlier Blue Revolution scheme to strengthen India's fisheries and aquaculture sector.
INR 6,885 crore projects approved under PMMSY
During the last three financial years (2023-24 to 2025-26), the Centre approved fisheries and aquaculture projects worth INR 6,885.18 crore, including a Central share of INR 3,159.83 crore, under PMMSY.
The government released INR 2,208.74 crore to states and Union Territories during the same period to implement approved fisheries and aquaculture projects.
Focus on disease prevention and biosecurity
To address rising input costs, disease outbreaks and volatility in international shrimp prices, the government is promoting biosecurity measures, disease surveillance, diagnostics, best management practices and farmer training.
Under the National Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases (NSPAAD), regular monitoring, early disease detection and reporting are being carried out to reduce production losses.
Financial assistance has also been provided under PMMSY to establish and strengthen aquatic animal health infrastructure, disease diagnostic laboratories, hatcheries and other facilities aimed at improving the resilience and competitiveness of the shrimp farming sector.
Insurance cover for fishers
The Centre is also providing group accidental insurance for marine and inland fishers and allied workers under PMMSY, with the premium shared between the Centre and states.
The scheme provides:
INR 5 lakh for death or permanent total disability.
INR 2.5 lakh for permanent partial disability.
INR 25,000 towards hospitalisation expenses following an accident.
Over the last three years, the government released INR 54.03 crore to provide insurance coverage to 103.73 lakh fishers, averaging 34.57 lakh beneficiaries annually.
Aquaculture insurance incentive
Under PM-MKSSY, shrimp and fish farmers are eligible for a one-time incentive to purchase aquaculture insurance.
The scheme offers:
Basic Insurance, covering crop losses due to floods, cyclones, pollution, earthquakes, structural damage and other natural disasters.
Comprehensive Insurance, which additionally covers disease-related losses.
The government provides an incentive of 40% of the insurance premium, subject to a ceiling of INR 25,000 per hectare or INR 1 lakh per farmer for up to four hectares of water spread area. For intensive aquaculture systems such as cage culture, biofloc, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and raceways, the incentive is also capped at INR 1 lakh per farmer.
Farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women beneficiaries receive an additional 10% incentive under the scheme.
The Centre also continues to extend Kisan Credit Card (KCC) facilities to fishers and fish farmers to meet their working capital requirements.
