Munsiyari in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district has emerged as a leading centre for rainbow trout culture, powered by the glacial streams of the Gori Ganga and ideal high-altitude water temperatures, Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said on Sunday, 18 October 2026. Likhi made the remarks during an official visit to the Swayatt Sehkarita, Namjala Trout Farm in Munsiyari, part of the Centre's broader drive to strengthen trout farming across Uttarakhand and other Himalayan states.

What the Secretary Saw on the Ground

During the visit, Likhi interacted with local fish farmers who shared their experiences and challenges in coldwater aquaculture. He reviewed the progress of coldwater fisheries development and commended local cooperatives for adopting rainbow trout farming as a sustainable livelihood option. The Secretary also highlighted the contribution of ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, in introducing rainbow trout to Munsiyari and providing scientific support in seed production, disease management, and farmer training.

Trout Exports and Institutional Tie-Ups

Uttarakhand achieved a milestone in June 2026 with its first international trout export to Nepal — a development Likhi called 'historic' and one that has opened new avenues for international trade. The state's Department of Fisheries is also supplying trout to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under a formal MoU between the Uttarakhand government and the paramilitary force, providing an assured institutional market for local farmers.

Centre's Investment Under PMMSY

The Centre has invested over ₹2,299 crore in coldwater regions under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), supporting infrastructure such as raceways, hatcheries, feed mills, cold storages, and post-harvest facilities. Across the six Himalayan hilly states and union territories — Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh — more than 5,600 raceways, 54 hatcheries, 293 cold storages, and 260 feed mills have been sanctioned. Notably, Pithoragarh has been designated a Cold Water Fisheries Cluster under PMMSY — one of 34 fisheries clusters notified across the country.

Production Growth and Uttarakhand's State Push

India's trout production has grown six-fold over the last decade, reaching nearly 5,000 MT annually. Within Uttarakhand, projects worth ₹317 crore have been sanctioned, including modern fish markets, landing centres, and an integrated aquapark at Sitarganj. The state has also launched the Trout Protsahan Yojna with an outlay of ₹170 crore, aiming to establish 1,500 raceways, 100 mini hatcheries, and 600 cold-storage facilities by 2028–29.

Broader Strategic Significance

Likhi underlined that coldwater aquaculture in border states carries strategic importance beyond economics — contributing to nutritional security, eco-tourism, conservation of endangered species such as the Mahseer, and the economic strengthening of remote border villages. This comes amid a wider policy push by the Centre to diversify rural livelihoods in ecologically sensitive Himalayan zones where conventional agriculture faces climate-related stress. With trout farming now linked to export markets, paramilitary supply chains, and eco-tourism circuits, Munsiyari's model is increasingly being projected as a replicable template for other high-altitude clusters.