FIDF Aims to Strengthen Fisheries Infrastructure, Boost Production and Reduce Post-Harvest Losses

₹7,522 crore fund supports concessional financing for aquaculture facilities and value chain development

New Delhi: The Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), with a total corpus of ₹7,522.48 crore, has been designed to create and strengthen fisheries infrastructure across the country, the government said.

In a reply to a question in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Tuesday said the scheme focuses on enabling modern infrastructure and improving efficiency across the fisheries value chain through concessional financing support.

Core objectives of FIDF

Launched in 2018–19, the primary objective of FIDF is to develop and upgrade fisheries and aquaculture infrastructure across states and union territories.

The fund provides concessional finance to eligible entities, including state governments, union territories, state agencies and private stakeholders, to build critical infrastructure such as hatcheries, feed mills, cold chains and processing units.

To make financing affordable, the department of fisheries provides interest subvention of up to 3% per annum, ensuring that loans are available at concessional rates, with lending rates not falling below 5%.

Strengthening the fisheries value chain

The scheme aims to address key structural gaps in the fisheries sector by:

Improving post-harvest infrastructure to reduce losses
Enhancing fish production and productivity
Promoting value addition and processing capacity
Improving marketing efficiency and supply chains

By focusing on these areas, FIDF seeks to build a more integrated and efficient fisheries ecosystem, supporting both inland and marine sectors.

Progress under the scheme

So far, the government has approved 228 projects under FIDF with a total project cost of ₹5,559.54 crore, of which ₹4,351.86 crore is eligible for interest subvention support.

These projects span multiple states and include infrastructure development across various segments of the fisheries sector.

State-level implementation

In Madhya Pradesh, projects approved under FIDF include the establishment of a state-of-the-art technology diffusion centre in Bhopal with a project cost of ₹5 crore, along with four projects by private entrepreneurs worth ₹1.90 crore.

Additionally, under the pradhan mantri matsya sampada yojana (PMMSY), the state has undertaken initiatives such as development of 26.43 hectares of new pond area, establishment of three fin-fish hatcheries, four feed mills, and two ice plants/cold storage facilities in the Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency.

Boost to rural livelihoods and aquaculture growth

Officials said that the infrastructure created under FIDF is expected to improve income opportunities for fishers and fish farmers while enhancing the overall productivity of the sector.

By strengthening supply chains and reducing wastage, the scheme is positioned as a key intervention to support sustainable growth of India’s fisheries sector.