Trout farming project launched in Swat

'Pakistan blessed with vast reservoirs of freshwaters in the form of rivers, canals, and lakes'

ISLAMABAD: Farming trout in the freshwaters of the scenic valleys of Swat could help address the food requirements in these areas apart from providing gainful employment to the public.

This was stated by the Federal Minister for National Food Security Mehboob Sultan on Thursday as he inaugurated an Rs2.355 billion Trout Fish Farming Programme in Swat.

The programme has been implemented under the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Emergency Programme. The programme was developed by a task force which consulted with the provincial government and includes projects such as shrimp farming, cage culture, and cage farming.

Sultan said that Pakistan is blessed with vast reservoirs of freshwaters in the form of rivers, canals, and lakes, therefore there is an ample opportunity for the development of aquaculture and fish farming, but unfortunately, the area has so far been severely neglected.

He added that Rs1.35 billion have been allocated for these projects.

“It is unfortunate that the per capita annual fish consumption is only two kilogrammes [in Pakistan] when compared to 20 kg around the world,” he said, as he further lamented that the 1,100-kilometre coastal belt has not been utilised for marine farming.

Sultan hoped trout farming will help boost tourism in the area apart from earning precious foreign exchange through its export.  

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2019.