India plans an export-focused policy for inland fisheries, which currently contribute just 2% of the sector's total export value. The initiative aims to connect remote fish farmers to global markets using advanced logistics, building on a record ₹72,000 crore in fisheries exports achieved during 2025-26.
The Indian government is formulating a new policy to prioritize inland fisheries, aiming to increase their participation in the nation's total seafood exports. While India has become the world's second-largest producer in the fisheries sector, inland production currently accounts for only 2% of export earnings. Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will play a central role in bringing advanced farming technologies directly to local fishermen.
Addressing Logistical Challenges in Fish Farming
A major focus of the upcoming policy is improving supply chain efficiency. Currently, inland production centers face significant bottlenecks in reaching international export hubs. The government is evaluating innovative logistical solutions, such as the use of drones, to transport fish seeds and final products more effectively. This is particularly relevant for states like Haryana, which currently relies on importing seeds from coastal states like Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, creating cost and time complexities that the government intends to reduce.
Export Performance and Policy Drivers
The fisheries sector has demonstrated strong momentum, with exports exceeding ₹72,000 crore in the 2025-26 financial year. This represents an increase of approximately ₹10,000 crore compared to the previous period. The government attributes this growth largely to the benefits derived from recent Free Trade Agreements, which have opened new markets for Indian seafood products. The new inland-focused policy is designed to maintain this trajectory by broadening the export base.
Broader Agricultural Roadmap for 2047
Beyond fisheries, the Union Agriculture Ministry has set extensive goals for the agricultural sector leading up to 2047. Working alongside NITI Aayog, the government aims to increase total agricultural production to 2.1 billion tonnes, up from the current 1.3 billion tonnes. The roadmap emphasizes diversifying away from traditional staples like rice and wheat toward pulses, oilseeds, and horticulture.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has placed particular emphasis on improving crop yields, noting that current productivity for pulses like tur and moong remains at approximately 5 quintals per acre. To achieve these targets, the ministry is focusing on the deployment of young scientists in advanced fields such as artificial intelligence and gene editing. The success of these initiatives will depend on the effective adoption of these technologies by farmers and the successful implementation of the infrastructure improvements planned for both inland and coastal fisheries. Investors tracking the broader agricultural and food processing sectors may monitor the deployment of these logistical and technological initiatives as indicators of potential productivity gains.