The Impressive Times23rd April 2025, Lucknow: Union Secretary, Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi visited the state –of- the art wholesale Fish Market at Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh to review its progress, today. The fish market is being established under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. Following the visit the Union Secretary also interacted with the fishermen and fish farmers to understand the gaps and challenges faced by them on the ground.
Modern Fish Market in Chandauli to Support Local Fishers
Uttar Pradesh, being one of the largest inland fisheries-producing states in India, contributes approximately 11.60 lakh metric tons to the country’s total fish production. To address existing gaps in the fisheries value chain and ensure better price realization for local fishers, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) supports the development of modern fisheries infrastructure, including fish markets, kiosks, and cold storage facilities. In line with this objective, a modern fish market project in Chandauli was approved under PMMSY during FY 2021–22, with a budgetary allocation of ₹61.88 crore, aimed at strengthening post-harvest infrastructure and improving market access for fishers in the region. The establishment of state of art wholesale fish market with world-class features aims to create a comprehensive, hygienic, and technology-enabled facility that enhances efficiency across the fish value chain. Key components include designated wholesale and retail zones, centralized air conditioning, firefighting systems, cold storage, processing units, effluent treatment, and sustainable infrastructure like rainwater harvesting and LED lighting. Smart features will include digital auction platforms, real-time inventory management, online traceability, and AI-enabled solutions for operations, logistics, and customer engagement. The facility will also integrate waste reuse systems, mechanized cleaning, energy monitoring, and provide spaces for certification agencies, training, healthcare, welfare services, and capacity-building initiatives, ensuring a future-ready, inclusive, and sustainable fisheries marketing hub.
State of art wholesale fish market offers a range of benefits that significantly enhance the efficiency, hygiene, and profitability of the fisheries sector. It provides a well-organized platform for bulk trading, ensuring better price discovery and transparent transactions for fishers and traders. Equipped with modern infrastructure such as cold storage, hygienic auction halls, waste management systems, and digital payment facilities, such markets help reduce post-harvest losses, maintain product quality, and meet food safety standards. Additionally, by streamlining the supply chain and enabling direct linkages between producers and buyers, a modern wholesale fish market boosts income for fishers, attracts private investment, and contributes to the overall growth of the fisheries economy.
The Department of Fisheries is committed towards developing fisheries infrastructure to drive sustainable growth in the fisheries sector by focusing its efforts on modernizing infrastructure, improving market access, and facilitating innovation in fish production, processing, and distribution through creation of modern fish markets, cold storage systems, and processing units etc., through initiatives such as the Blue Revolution, Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY). Government of India under PMMSY and FIDF is creating modern infrastructure to enhance trade efficiency, improve hygiene standards, and ensure fair prices for fishers. Traditional fish markets in many regions, often face challenges such as poor infrastructure, lack of cold storage, and inadequate waste management systems. For strengthening the post-harvest infrastructure, 202 fish retail markets and 21 modern wholesale markets have been sanctioned under PMMSY with a total outlay of Rs.676.15 Cr. This initiative will also integrate robust post-harvest facilities and market linkages, ensuring seamless connectivity from catch to consumer and enhancing value retention across the fisheries value chain.
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