Rajiv Ranjan Singh to inaugurate Smart Green Aquaculture facility in Telangana
Hyderabad: Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh will inaugurate the Smart Green Aquaculture Farm and Research Institute and a state-of-the-art RAS facility in Telangana on January 5.
The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj will inaugurate the project after a general body meeting in Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Smart Green Aquaculture Limited has established the facility at Kandukur Mandal in Ranga Reddy district.
Officials said Smart Green Aquaculture has set up India’s first commercial-scale tropical RAS-based rainbow trout farm and research institute. As a result, the project proved that farmers can raise high-value cold-water species under Hyderabad’s climate.
The facility uses precision engineering, controlled biological systems and advanced water recirculation technology. Therefore, rainbow trout farming is now possible throughout the year in tropical conditions.
Officials said the initiative overturned long-held assumptions about climate limits in aquaculture. Consequently, the project demonstrated that technology, not geography, determines aquaculture viability.
Moreover, the project serves as a live training and demonstration platform. It provides youth with hands-on experience in automation, biosecurity and advanced aquaculture systems.
The Government of India has steadily increased investments in fisheries and aquaculture since 2015. In addition, cumulative approvals and announcements across schemes have reached ₹38,572 crore, officials said.
Smart Green Aquaculture advances technology-led trout farming
Officials said cold-water fisheries are emerging as a high-potential segment. Notably, rising demand for premium species and export opportunities is driving this growth.
Traditionally, trout farming remained limited to Himalayan and hill states. However, these include Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
The Department of Fisheries expanded rainbow trout hatcheries in these regions. As a result, annual production has reached 14 lakh trout seeds, officials said.
Similarly, the expansion has created new employment opportunities in remote areas. This has strengthened livelihoods linked to cold-water fisheries.
Uttarakhand has also signed an MoU with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Under this agreement, authorities will supply trout through the Vibrant Villages scheme.
Meanwhile, officials said the Union government is driving aquaculture as a strategic growth engine. Therefore, the focus includes RAS adoption, species diversification and capacity building.
They added that these reforms aim to raise farmer incomes and reduce regional constraints. Ultimately, the goal is to build a market-oriented and sustainable aquaculture ecosystem.
Finally, the Department of Fisheries has notified cold-water fisheries clusters. These clusters cover Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
