Department of Fisheries (DoF) charts export roadmap for Chhattisgarh tilapia cluster with ₹900 crore PMMSY investment

Key facts

• The Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying held a meeting on August 20, 2026, with over 1,300 tilapia farmers and stakeholders in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
• India recorded fish production of 198 lakh tonnes and seafood exports worth ₹73,890.46 crore despite global trade disruptions.
• Nearly ₹900 crore has been invested under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in Chhattisgarh, leading to a doubling of the state's fish production to nearly 10 lakh tonnes.
• Chhattisgarh has initiated tilapia exports, with 382 tonnes exported to the United States.
• India exported 32,324 metric tonnes of freshwater and inland species worth ₹535.21 crore in FY 2025-26, with tilapia accounting for 22,601 metric tonnes valued at ₹189.73 crore.
• The tilapia cluster in Chhattisgarh has received investments exceeding ₹9 crore, including ₹5 crore under the NFDB Entrepreneurship Model and ₹4 crore in credit support.
• The Department of Fisheries has identified Chhattisgarh as a potential tilapia growth centre along with nine other states.