To further promote pisciculture in the state, Punjab Government has decided to increase area under profitable agri-allied occupation, shrimp culture, to 5,000 acres over next five years.
Farmers are getting an income of Rs three lakh per acre by adopting shrimp farming which is being practiced on the saline-affected water-logged land. It has proved a boon to supplement the farmers income,
Bhullar said that for the development of shrimp culture, a dedicated Demonstration Farm-cum-Training Center is being run at Ena Khera village in Sri Muktsar Sahib district, where free training and -water testing facilities are being provided to shrimp farmers.
The Minister urged the farmers to adopt aqua-culture to further increase their sources of income. The government is providing 40 to 60 percent subsidy for adopting aqua-culture, he said, adding that 40 percent subsidy is being provided for general category and 60 percent subsidy is being given to SC/ST/Women and their self-help groups.