Shillong: Meghalaya is betting on a new cluster model to bridge the gap between its annual fish production of 20,000 metric tonnes and the 32,000 metric tonnes required by the state. The Fisheries Department intends to group 993 farmers in Jirang to fix systemic issues, including high feed costs and poor market access. Currently, the state relies on shipments from Assam, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh to meet demand.
The Jirang cluster spans 135 hectares of aquaculture area. It aims to replace isolated, pond-based farming with collective procurement and organized sales. Officials recently held an orientation program in Patharkhmah with the Living Roots Network, School of Livelihood and Rural Development, and the Global Association of MSMEs. Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Fisheries Meda A. Khongjliw explained the goal of the shift. She said the department wanted to move beyond individual pond-based production and develop the existing potential into a business model by bringing farmers together under a cluster to achieve economies of scale and improve incomes.
Ri-Bhoi holds the state's third-highest production rate with nearly 5,000 farmers. The plan hinges on forming Fish Farmer Producer Organisations to lower input costs and grant better financial leverage. Support packages include water testing, disease prevention, and help with government programs like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Meghalaya Aqua Mission.
Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun noted the region possesses significant potential that remains untapped. Farmers currently struggle with losses when poor market conditions force them to sell directly from ponds. New infrastructure will solve this. A dedicated feed mill and cold-storage facility are slated for construction between October and December 2026. These additions will create a more efficient value chain, linking producers to buyers in Meghalaya and neighboring Assam.
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