India-based fish-farming firm Khyber Aquaculture announced a new partnership with the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Fisheries to start a specialized program with local trout farmers to upgrade and acclimate them to modern, sustainable aquaculture practices.
According to a release by the company, the initiative is under a Holistic Agricultural Development Plan (HADP), and the Project 22 Implementation of a Trout Cluster Program covering Ganderbal and Anantnag’s trout farming industries.
“The training brought together progressive farmers from Ganderbal, Bandipora, and Srinagar for an intensive session on ‘Sustainable Trout Aquaculture and Fish Health Management,’” a release by Khyber Aquaculture said. “Experts guided participants through practical modules on biosecurity, water-quality management, responsible aquaculture, early disease detection, and Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS). A key focus was shifting from reactive treatment of fish diseases to proactive prevention; emphasizing routine water monitoring, stress reduction, and early warning systems to safeguard fish health.”
Khyber Aquaculture noted that Jammu and Kashmir are potentially key hubs for cold-water trout production due to the natural mountain conditions, with the Pir Panjal Range in the southwest and the Great Himalayas to the northeast. By teaching farmers modern practices in aquaculture trout production, Khyber Aquaculture said it hopes to boost productivity, strengthen value chains, and identify opportunities for expansion in the market. At the trainings, farmers were able to share challenges to cold-water trout farming that occur present day, and troubleshoot for solutions on improving conditions, longevity, fish health, and growth.
“Capacity building is the cornerstone of a resilient trout sector,” Khyber Aquaculture Group Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) Umar Tramboo said. “By fostering collaboration between farmers, government institutions, and technical experts, we can build a sustainable cold-water aquaculture ecosystem that supports livelihoods, food security, and rural enterprise development in Jammu & Kashmir.”
Last month, Khyber Aquaculture announced the launch of a 7,000 MT RAS trout farm in Kashmir that spans 8 acres beside the Sindh River. That facility will include hatcheries, grow-out, processing, and packaging facilities.
