Sikkim: Centre launches organic fish certification rules, ITBP to buy trout

Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) on Monday launched a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for organic certification of fisheries in the Northeast during a visit to Mangan district in Sikkim, the Press Information Bureau said.

He also inaugurated fisheries projects worth Rs 375 lakh (Rs 3.75 crore) under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and Sikkim signed an agreement with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to buy locally farmed rainbow trout.

What the certification SOP does

The SOP lays down a structured framework for organic fish production in the region and for traceability along the supply chain, from farm to market. The aim is to give organic fish from the Northeast more credibility with buyers and help it fetch premium prices in Indian and export markets.

It builds on the organic fisheries cluster in Sikkim's Soreng district, which was notified in January 2025 as the first such cluster in the country under PMMSY. The cluster promotes fish farming without chemicals, antibiotics or pesticides, with a focus on Amur carp, Indian major carps and trout. A second organic cluster has since been notified in Meghalaya, and 34 fisheries production and processing clusters have been notified nationwide.

Projects and support for farmers

The Rs 3.75 crore of projects cover hatcheries, feed mills, cold storage and production systems such as biofloc and recirculatory aquaculture (RAS). Kisan Credit Cards were handed to fish farmers, five farmers received cheques under the state's Mukhya Mantri Matsya Uthpadhan Yojana, and fish feed was given to 15 farmers from two cooperatives.

The minister visited a live fish vending centre set up under PMMSY and met members of fish farmers' cooperatives. Sikkim Fisheries Minister Puran Kumar Gurung and Union Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi were present.

A guaranteed buyer for trout

Under the MoU with the ITBP, which guards the India-China border in Sikkim, the force's establishments are to receive regular supplies of rainbow trout from local farmers. The arrangement covers quality specifications, supply capacity, pricing, inspection and delivery schedules.

Trout is a high-value cold-water fish, but farmers in remote hill areas often struggle with steady demand and transport. A large institutional buyer could give them a more stable market.

Part of a longer visit

Singh is on a visit to Sikkim under the Centre's system of periodic ministerial visits to the Northeast. Earlier, he reviewed dairy work in the state, including 57 new dairy cooperatives under White Revolution 2.0, which NEInsider reported separately.