Business1 min read

Odisha homemaker farms 25-30 tonnes of fish yearly, earns Rs 7-10 lakh

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Bhuyan launched her commercial enterprise by investing Rs 54 lakh, utilizing personal savings and a Rs 30 lakh bank loan to initiate operations. She accessed structured technical guidance from the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute and the Odisha Fisheries Department to master stocking, water quality management, and disease control. Eligible for a 60 percent phased subsidy under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, she overcame erratic weather and feed sourcing hurdles within three years. Her established venture highlights a viable model for first-time entrepreneurs entering modern inland fisheries.

Key points

  • Institutional backing and specialized technical training enable first-time entrepreneurs…: Institutional backing and specialized technical training enable first-time entrepreneurs to effectively manage modern aquaculture operations.
  • Government subsidy programs like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana significantly l…: Government subsidy programs like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana significantly lower entry barriers for capital-intensive ventures.
  • Structured cage farming in public reservoirs provides rural women with viable pathways to…: Structured cage farming in public reservoirs provides rural women with viable pathways to achieve substantial economic independence.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

For Sujata Bhuyan, a homemaker from Odisha’s Sambalpur district, a visit to the Hirakud Reservoir opened the door to an entirely new career. What began as a way to contribute to her family’s income gradually developed into a fish-farming business that now produces 25 to 30 metric tonnes of fish annually and earns her between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 10 lakh a year.

Her journey is an example of how women can build livelihoods by learning new skills, adopting technology and making use of opportunities in their local surroundings. Bhuyan entered a field that required technical knowledge, financial investment and considerable time away from home. With training and institutional support, she gradually learned to manage the challenges and grow her enterprise. Her success also reached a national audience when Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted her journey in the 132nd episode of his radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, in March 2026.

A visit to Hirakud sparked a business idea

Bhuyan began exploring fish farming in 2022 after seeing cage-based fish cultivation in the Hirakud Reservoir. Instead of viewing the activity…

Business