India Celebrates 25th National Fish Farmers Day on 10 July 2025.
Important Days
India observed the 25th National Fish Farmers Day (NFFD) on July 10, 2025, to recognise the vital role of fish farmers, aquaculture experts, and stakeholders in ensuring sustainable aquaculture and boosting the Blue Economy. The celebration aimed to honour the contributions and innovations made in India's fisheries sector.
- The National Fish Farmers Day was first observed in 2001 after it was officially declared by the Government of India (GoI). Since then, it has been commemorated every year on 10th July to promote the spirit of scientific aquaculture, and to raise awareness about the importance of inland and marine fisheries for food security and livelihoods.
- The 2025 edition of the celebration was held at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research – Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which is one of India’s leading aquaculture R&D institutions. The Department of Fisheries (DoF), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D), coordinated the national event.
Main Point :- (i) The event was graced by Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, who holds portfolios in both the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying (MoFAH&D) and the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR). He emphasized the government's commitment to doubling aquaculture productivity and promoting exports of value-added fish products under schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana.
(ii) Union Ministers of State S.P. Singh Baghel and George Kurian also attended the function. They highlighted how technological innovations and hatchery developments have transformed the inland fishery sector, empowering lakhs of rural fish farmers and entrepreneurs in coastal and tribal belts.
(iii) The celebration marked the silver jubilee of NFFD and included technical sessions, exhibitions, best farmer awards, and policy discussions on improving pond productivity, climate-resilient aquaculture, and AI-enabled monitoring systems. Fish farmers from across India shared their success stories, and ICAR-CIFA showcased its ongoing research.
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