Javid Ahmad Dar inaugurates Floating Trout Feed Manufacturing Plant at Kokernag; lays foundation stone for NABARD-assisted Trout Fish Farming Project at Kathsoo Pahalgam
ANANTNAG: Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Departments, Javid Ahmad Dar today inaugurated the Floating Trout Feed Manufacturing Plant at Kokernag and laid the foundation stone for the NABARD-assisted Trout Fish Farming Project at Kathsoo, Pahalgam.
The Floating Trout Feed Manufacturing Plant, established under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) at an estimated cost of ₹2.5 crore, marks a significant step towards strengthening the fisheries sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The plant has a production capacity of 400 kilograms per hour, aimed at meeting the growing demand for high-quality trout feed across the region.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Kokernag, Zafar Ali Khatana; MLA Rajpora, Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Mir; MLA Shangus-Anantnag East, Reyaz Ahmad Khan; MLA Anantnag West, Abdul Majid Bhat; MLA Pahalgam, Altaf Ahmad Wani; Director Fisheries, J&K, Abdul Majid Tak, and other senior officers of the Agriculture Production, Mechanical Engineering, and allied departments.
Following the inauguration, the Minister inspected the Kokernag Trout Fish Farm, where he reviewed the ongoing cultivation activities and modern farming techniques being adopted to enhance production. He also inspected the breeding section and interacted with fish farmers and officials.
Later, at Kathsoo, Pahalgam, the Minister laid the foundation stone for the NABARD-assisted Trout Fish Farming Project and interacted with fish farmers and beneficiaries, encouraging them to adopt sustainable aquaculture practices.
Speaking to the media, Javid Ahmad Dar said that the newly inaugurated feed manufacturing plant will significantly improve the availability of quality feed, thereby boosting trout production across South Kashmir. He highlighted the immense potential of the fisheries sector for employment generation, noting that it can become a key driver of the rural economy in the coming years.
