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Leh, October 10: A team of experts from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) visited Leh on October 8 to assess the potential for developing high-value cold-water fisheries and aquaculture in Ladakh, with a focus on trout production, quality certification, value addition and market expansion.
The team, comprising Dr P. Jayagopal, Deputy Director (Aquaculture), MPEDA, Kochi, and Dr S. Kandan, Consultant, MPEDA–Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), Tamil Nadu, visited the Sindhu Trout Fish Farm at Shey and PMMSY-supported trout-rearing units operated by local farmers in Chuchot.
The experts assessed existing facilities, farming practices and water resources and interacted with farmers to understand challenges related to trout seed and feed availability, winter management, fish health, production costs and marketing. They also provided technical guidance on scientific stocking, feeding, water-quality management and hygienic fish handling.
The team observed that Ladakh’s clean cold-water resources and high-altitude environment offer considerable potential for positioning its trout as a premium product in domestic and export markets.
The proposed collaboration between the Fisheries Department, UT Ladakh, and MPEDA/RGCA is expected to focus on scientific farming practices, farmer training, quality certification, cold-chain infrastructure, value addition and market linkages.
The initiative aims to strengthen Ladakh’s trout sector, improve farmers’ incomes and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for local fish farmers and entrepreneurs.
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