Department of Fisheries Hosts Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 in Hyderabad Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Ministers of State Launch Key Initiatives at Conclave.

 

Department of Fisheries Hosts Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 in Hyderabad


Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh and Ministers of State Launch Key Initiatives at Conclave

 08 MAR 2025  Hyderabad (prajaamaravati):

The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying (MoFAH&D), organized the Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 today in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The event was inaugurated by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry( MoFAH&D) & the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, along with Minister of State Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel (MoFAH&D and Ministry of Panchayati Raj) & Prof Ramesh Chand, Member NITI Aayog

 

The Department of Fisheries organized the Startup Conclave 2.0 to promote innovation in the fisheries sector. As part of this initiative, the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge 2.0 was launched to support startups in manufacturing and related areas. The program aims to foster entrepreneurship, technological advancements, and sustainability in fisheries and aquaculture, enhancing production and efficiency.Through the Fisheries Startup Grand Challenge 2.0 support will be extended to 10 winning startups with Rs 1 crore in funding. Each winning proposal will receive structured incubation support from ICAR ( ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology)  ( National Fisheries Development Board) NFDB, or other affiliated institutions under the Department of Fisheries. These incubators will play a crucial role in mentoring startups, offering capacity-building programs, and providing access to manufacturing infrastructure to help them scale their solutions effectively.

 

The NFDP Mobile Application was launched during the Fisheries Startup Conclave 2.0 to expand access to Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana( PM-MKSSY)  benefits. 

The launch was led by Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh), Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj other dignitaries, and participating startups. 

 The NFDP mobile app has been developed and is now available on the Google Play Store. The app offers a seamless interface for users particularly startups to navigate various modules and avail scheme benefits.
Developed under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY), the NFDP serves as a platform for creating digital work-identities for fishers, fish farmers, vendors, and processors, enabling their seamless integration into formal financial and welfare systems. The mobile application simplifies access to various government schemes, offering a user-friendly interface for navigating multiple modules and avail scheme benefits.The NFDP mobile app has transformed the fisheries sector by enabling digital registration and providing access to the PM-MKSSY scheme, financial aid, insurance, and training programs. It offers Rs 100 for self-registration and Rs 76 for registration via VLEs of CSCs. The app strengthens cooperatives, improves traceability, and enhances market linkages, benefiting over 19 lakh registered users. Special awareness and registration camps are boosting participation, making this initiative a major step toward digital inclusion and financial empowerment in the fisheries sector.


Background: India’s fisheries and aquaculture sector sustains 3 crore livelihoods, driving employment across the value chain. Since 2015, the Government has invested ₹38,572 crore through various initiatives and schemes to promote sustainable growth. This rapid expansion has spurred the rise of over 300 fisheries start-ups, which are leveraging blockchain, IoT, and AI to develop innovative, commercially viable solutions that enhance productivity, ensure traceability, and improve value chain efficiencies.  To address the fisheries’ value chain challenges through innovative technology solutions, a set of problem statements have been identified that focus on developing nutritious and affordable aquaculture feeds from sustainable sources, enhancing aquaculture sustainability through AI-powered precision farming, building resilient and inclusive seafood supply chains, minimizing waste while maximizing value in the seafood industry, and integrating traditional knowledge with modern technology for sustainable fisheries.Another endeavour of Department of Fisheries (GoI) towards digital transformation in the fisheries sector was the launch of National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying and Ministry of Panchayati Raj in September 2024.

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