Drass, July 06, 2026 — In a major step towards boosting local aquaculture and enhancing rural livelihoods, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Drass, Imteeaz Kacho (JKAS), inaugurated a newly constructed fish raising pond at Marpochu today. The fish farm is being executed and supported under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), he was informed.
The developmental project was successfully executed through a joint collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and a local farmer and beneficiary of Marpochhu, Mohammad Zahid, aiming to tap into the region’s pristine water resources for sustainable fish farming.
The event was also attended by LAHDC Councilor of Ranbirpora, Abdul Samad, and Assistant Director, Fisheries, Kargil, Mohammad Ameen Lone along with prominent local citizens, departmental field staff and progressive farmers.
Speaking on the occasion, DC Drass, Imteeaz Kacho expressed delight that the newly inaugurated farm comprises four (4) raceways with capacity of fifty (50) cubic metres each. He also appreciated the fact that 12000 trout seeds would be stocked for the farm. He then congratulated the farm owner and local residents and commended the Department of Fisheries for its technical guidance and support. He emphasized that the cold-water climatic conditions of Drass are uniquely suited for quality aquaculture, particularly trout farming. He further noted that such community-led initiatives not only enhance food security but also open new avenues for self-employment and economic independence for the local youth.
Councilor Ranbirpora, Abdul Samad, expressed his gratitude to the District Administration and the fisheries department for prioritizing the development of Marpochoo. He assured full cooperation from the public and urged the local youth to leverage government subsidy schemes to build sustainable businesses around fish farming.
The Assistant Director of Fisheries provided a brief overview of the project’s technical specifications and stated that the Department is actively working to expand its footprint in Drass by providing high-quality seed, feed, and hands-on training to local farmers.
The event concluded with an interactive session during which the Deputy Commissioner and officials of the Fisheries Department officials interacted with the locals, addressing their feedback and outlining future developmental plans for the area. He expressed hope that more youth of Drass District will come forward and take full benefit of PMMSY under which the financial support is immense.
