Mandya Fishermen to Market Fresh Catch under ‘KRS Fishes’ Brand

Rapid Summary

• PMMSY meeting: Deputy Commissioner Kumar chaired the district-level committee meeting of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in mandya, focusing on fisheries progress for 2025-26.
• Fish Farming in Mandya: The district has 865 tanks and multiple river stretches for fish farming. In 2024-25, 383 lakh fish seedlings were released, yielding 30.579 tonnes of fish.
• Fishermen training & Assistance: Over 45,000 fishermen in the district; officials urged to offer specialised training. As PMMSY’s launch five years ago, ₹513.38 lakh financial aid has benefited 742 people; FPO formation is encouraged.
• Local Branding Initiative: Zilla Panchayat CEO K.R. Nandini proposed marketing fresh fish under a brand called ‘KRS Fishes’ with better packaging to boost income by up to 30%. suggested opening live fish vending centres and importing from Mangaluru and Udupi.
• Pollution Concerns: Emphasis was placed on preventing polluted or drainage water from entering fishing areas.

Indian Opinion Analysis

the discussions at the PMMSY meeting underscore the intention to strengthen Mandya’s fisheries sector through targeted interventions like training programs and financial assistance under government schemes. Proposals such as branding ‘KRS Fishes,’ setting up retail kiosks, and importing high-quality stock reflect a strategy for increasing income while creating a sustainable fisheries market niche.Initiatives like these not only promise economic upliftment for local fishermen but also hint at emerging opportunities for entrepreneurship via Fisherman Producer Organisations (FPOs). However, pollution control measures are critical to ensuring long-term environmental sustainability-a factor that requires collective action from both authorities and communities.

Efficient implementation of these proposals could set an example for other districts looking to enhance rural livelihoods through similar industry-focused strategies.

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