The ICAR-Central Institute of Coldwater Fisheries Research (CICFR) in Bhimtal has unveiled a farmer-friendly, solar-powered hybrid recirculating aquaculture system (Hybrid-RAS) at the farm of Prithvi Singh in Malla Ramgarh, Uttarakhand, to promote climate-resilient rainbow trout farming in the hills, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research said. The event on 14 October opened the demonstration unit and showed its first harvest.
The field demonstration, funded by NABARD, began in January 2026. It tackles the main problems of hill fish farmers: water shortages in summer, interrupted supply and heavy silt during the monsoon. Compared with conventional flow-through ponds, the system recirculates and treats water, cutting consumption by about 80%, with an estimated energy need of 4-5 kWh for each kilogram of fish produced.
Based on observed growth and harvest data, a unit of two nursery tanks and two grow-out tanks is projected to produce about one tonne of rainbow trout a year for an initial investment of around Rs 5 lakh. At about Rs 700 a kilogram, gross revenue would be Rs 7 lakh; with operating costs of Rs 2-2.5 lakh, the operating surplus could be Rs 4-5 lakh a year, paying back the investment in about a year, the institute estimates.
The unit was inaugurated under institute director Dr Amit Pande as part of Reform Utsav 2026, with project director Shilpi Pant and Nainital assistant director of fisheries Rajni Devrari attending. About 60 farmers and others were shown how the system works and how to manage water quality.
Photo: Bill Kuykendall, US National Archives / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Source: ICAR
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