Chhattisgarh Begins Tilapia Product Exports

Chhattisgarh became the first inland state in India to begin exports of value-added Tilapia products on 20 August 2026. The state exported 382 tonnes of Tilapia products to the United States and held a review meeting in Raipur on the notified Tilapia cluster.

Tilapia and Inland Fisheries

Tilapia is a freshwater fish widely farmed in ponds, tanks, cages, and recirculatory systems. Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia, or GIFT, is a selectively bred strain developed for aquaculture and used in several fish farming systems.

Chhattisgarh’s Fisheries Profile

Chhattisgarh has reported an investment of nearly ₹900 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The state’s fish production has reached about 10 lakh tonnes after this investment, and the fisheries sector uses inland water resources such as ponds, reservoirs, and tanks.

Institutions and Export Ecosystem

The Raipur meeting was chaired by Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Representatives from the National Fisheries Development Board, Marine Products Export Development Authority, and NABARD participated in the review with more than 1,300 fish farmers, exporters, and entrepreneurs.

Important Facts for Exams

• Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state in central India and does not have a coastline.
• Tilapia is a freshwater fish species used in commercial aquaculture.
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is a central scheme for fisheries development in India.
• MPEDA is the statutory body linked with marine product exports from India.

India’s Fisheries Sector

India’s fisheries sector has recorded production of 198 lakh tonnes. Seafood exports from India have reached ₹73,890.46 crore, and Tilapia exports add a value-added product line to the country’s fisheries trade.