On January 5, 2026, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) and Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), inaugurated the Smart Green Aquaculture (SGA) Farm and Research Institute, India’s first commercial-scale tropical trout farm and a state-of-the-art Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) facility in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Exam Hints:
- What? SGA Farm Research Institute & RAS facility inaugurated
- Who? Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh
- Where? In Hyderabad (Telangana)
- Significance: India’s first commercial-scale tropical RAS-based Rainbow Trout farm and research institute
- Technology: Recirculating Aquaculture System
About SGA Farm and Research Institute:
Background: SGA Limited has set up the tropical RAS-based Rainbow Trout farm and research institute at Kandukur Mandal, in Ranga Reddy, Telangana.
Skill Development: The project also serves as a live training and demonstration centre, providing hands-on learning to youths in advanced aquaculture systems, automation and monitoring, and biosecurity practices.
About Rainbow Trout: It is a cold-water fish species that normally thrives in cool, well-oxygenated waters such as Himalayan rivers and hill streams in places including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh (HP), and Sikkim.
- Prior to the inauguration, Trout farming in India was mostly limited to those cold regions, because high temperatures tend to stress the fish and reduce their survival and growth.
About Recirculating Aquaculture System facility:
Overview: RAS facility is an advanced indoor fish-farming system where water is continuously cleaned, filtered, oxygenated and reused in a closed loop, unlike traditional ponds where water is exchanged with the environment.
Prevention & control: RAS technology keeps trout healthy in a tropical climate by controlling temperature to mimic cold-water habitats, filtering water to remove waste and impurities, maintaining high oxygen levels, reusing most water saving resources, and preventing disease through enclosed, bio secure systems.
About India’s Cold-Water Fisheries:
Emerging demand: It is emerging as a high-growth segment, driven by rising demand for premium fish, expanding domestic and export markets, and adoption of sustainable aquaculture technologies.
Background: Department of Fisheries (DoF) has strengthened trout production through new hatcheries and modern techniques, achieving annual production of 14-lakh trout seeds.
- Additionally, Uttarakhand has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) under the Vibrant Village Scheme to supply trout fish.
- The Government of India has set in motion a series of transformative initiatives aimed at fostering the comprehensive development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. From 2015, the cumulative investments, totalling an impressive Rs 38,572 Cr, have been approved or announced across various schemes.
About Telangana:
Chief Minister (CM) – A Revanth Reddy
Governor – Jishnu Dev Varma
Capital – Hyderabad
Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) – Kinnerasani WLS, Pakhal WLS
