Centre honours woman shrimp farmer in Delhi

Rupinder Kaur, a shrimp farmer from Enna Khera village, was thrilled to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Delhi as a special guest of the Central Government on January 26, recognising her exemplary work in aquaculture. She was one of six shrimp farmers from Punjab invited to the prestigious event.

Speaking to The Tribune, the 30-year-old graduate, who has been farming shrimp since 2021, described the experience as “a lifetime moment.” The Centre covered all her expenses, including flights, accommodation, and meals, with only the trip to Chandigarh being at her own cost.

Rupinder also shared that during a meeting with Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Rajiv Ranjan Singh, they were informed that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), which provides financial support for shrimp farming, would be extended.

Under PMMSY, the government offers a 40% subsidy to general category individuals, 60% to SC/ST individuals and women, for setting up shrimp farming ventures. The subsidy is shared between the Centre and the state government on a 60:40 basis.

Starting with a four-acre pond, Rupinder and her husband, Manjinder Singh, expanded their farming operations to 12 acres across Muktsar and Fazilka districts. Rupinder has adopted the eco-friendly biofloc shrimp farming method, known for its high yield. Muktsar, with 400 acres dedicated to shrimp farming, leads the state in this sector.