India’s Khyber Group has launched what it says is the country’s largest recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility for Himalayan trout, with plans to expand annual production capacity from 1,500 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes within three to five years.
The eight-acre site in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district has been developed with an investment of more than INR 1 billion (€9.9 million) and includes hatchery, grow-out, processing and packaging facilities. The company said the hatchery can produce up to 20 million fingerlings a year.
Khyber said the project will support more than 300 local farmers through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and create more than 3,000 indirect jobs. The company added that its RAS technology is designed to reduce freshwater use while enabling year-round trout production.
“Our cluster model is designed to integrate production, hatcheries, processing and supply chains while supporting local farmers through modern aquaculture systems and market access,” said chairman and managing director Umar Tramboo.