India achieves aquaculture breakthrough with launch of tropical RAS-Based trout farm

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Panchayati Raj Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh will inaugurate the Smart Green Aquaculture Farm and Research Institute and a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) facility on January 5, 2026, following a General Body Meeting in Hyderabad.

Established by Smart Green Aquaculture Limited , the facility is India’s first commercial-scale tropical RAS-based Rainbow Trout aquaculture farm . Located at Kandukur Mandal in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana , the project marks a major milestone for Indian aquaculture by demonstrating that high-value cold-water species such as Rainbow Trout can be farmed year-round in tropical climates through advanced engineering, controlled biological systems, and water recirculation technology. The development overturns long-held beliefs that premium aquaculture species are limited to specific climatic zones and establishes technology as the key driver of aquaculture viability.

The institute will also serve as a live training and demonstration centre , providing youth with hands-on experience in modern aquaculture systems, automation, and biosecurity, thereby strengthening skilled manpower in the fisheries sector.

Aquaculture often described as underwater farming involves the controlled breeding and rearing of fish and other aquatic organisms in ponds, tanks, cages, or advanced systems like RAS. It plays a vital role in food and nutritional security by ensuring a steady supply of affordable, protein-rich food while reducing pressure on overfished natural water bodies.

Globally, aquaculture supplies over 50 per cent of fish consumed by humans , with production exceeding 130 million tonnes annually . India is the third-largest fish producer in the world , contributing about 8 per cent of global fish output , with aquaculture accounting for over 55–60 per cent of the country’s total fish production. The sector supports the livelihoods of more than 28 million people .

Since 2015, the Government of India has approved cumulative investments of ₹38,572 crore to modernise fisheries. With parallel efforts to strengthen traditional cold-water trout farming in Himalayan states and notify cold-water fisheries clusters, the Telangana RAS project signals a technology-driven shift toward sustainable, scalable, and market-oriented aquaculture growth .