Budgam District has become self sufficient in producing Trout fingerlings. The Trout Hatchery farm at Khag, has a capacity to produce 1.50 lakh fingerlings annually. This was revealed at a function organized to mark the beginning of fish farmer’s exposure visit, which was flagged off by the Chief Planning officer Budgam, here today. A Large number of fish farmers and concerned officers of the Fisheries Department were present on the occasion. During the exposure visit, the fish farmer’s would be taken to various fish farms of the District including Bassantwooder, Arizal, Beerwa and Khag to acquaint them with the latest fish farming techniques. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Planning Officer called for the introducing modern techniques and scientific technology among the fishermen for commercial exploitation of the fish farming to create avenues to unemployed youth. He said that the fishermen and other unemployed youth would be provided all possible assistance and technical knowhow to enable them to take up pisciculture as means of their livelihood. The Assistant Director Fisheries Budgam informed that the Rs. 80 lakh under construction modern Trout Rearing Farm at Nowhar, Chadoora shall be completed during the current year. The rearing farm shall be a demonstration unit and will also cater the fish reqiurments of the whole area. He said during the current fiscal 10 new fish ponds were established in private sector including 3 Carp and seven Trout ponds. He further said that the fish farmers were provided Rs 29.75 lakh under Blue Revolution and RKVY scheme for construction of these fish ponds. He said about 80,000 Brown Trout fry were stocked in Nallah Doodganga, Nallah Sukhnag and Nallah Shaliganga this year to boost trout fish production in the district.