Kolkata Summit Aims to Boost Fish Production and Digitalisation in West Bengal

New Delhi, September 20 – A high‑profile summit will be held in Kolkata on September 21, bringing together Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh and West Bengal Chief Minister Succeedu Adhikari to focus on expanding fish output and digitising the sector.

The two‑day review will assess the status of various state‑level initiatives, pinpoint priority actions for sustainable growth, and cement collaborative mechanisms between centre and state agencies. Inputs from national fisheries research organisations, regulatory bodies and banking institutions will inform strategies for increasing aquaculture acreage, adopting advanced technology, strengthening supply‑chain infrastructure, and attracting private capital.

West Bengal, contributing 2.543 million tonnes of fish in the 2025‑26 fiscal year, has seen ₹617 crore invested in modernising production methods, post‑harvest handling, processing facilities and capacity‑building programmes, directly supporting over three million fish farmers.

The meeting is also slated to grant administrative approval for a comprehensive reservoir development plan aimed at sustaining long‑term aquaculture expansion. Emphasis will be placed on empowering Fish Farmer Producer Organisations (FFPOs), cooperative societies and rolling out digital platforms for better market access and data management.

Stakeholders expect the summit to accelerate implementation of priority schemes, promote environmentally sound, technology‑focused aquaculture, and stimulate greater investment in the fisheries value chain, thereby improving livelihoods, market linkages and positioning West Bengal as a competitive global fish‑production hub.