Kumar Bahukhandi
Prakash Dhivar holding a fish on his lap -Photo Credit CG/PR
In Short
- Providing Employment to 20 People in the Region
- Earning an Annual Income of ₹15 to ₹20 Lakhs with Support from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
Raipur: Prakash Dhivar, a resident of Beldar Sivni Gram Panchayat in the Tilda-Nevra development block—located approximately 35 kilometers from the state capital, Raipur—has today emerged as a successful and inspiring example in the field of fish farming. For him, fish farming is not merely a business; it has become his primary source of livelihood.
It is worth mentioning that Prakash Dhivar, a resident of Sivni, approached the Department of Fisheries in search of employment after completing his 12th-grade education. From the department, he learned that it was possible to undertake fish farming by leasing the ponds within the Gram Panchayat. Consequently, without delay, he formed a committee and, in accordance with government regulations, secured a 10-year lease for the ponds belonging to the Sivni Gram Panchayat.
Simultaneously, he initiated fish farming operations by leasing several private ponds as well.
Currently, his committee holds leases for a total of five ponds (spanning 8.835 hectares), which yield an annual fish production of approximately 22 to 25 tons. Dhivar serves as the President of the “Jai Mahamaya Machhua Sahakari Samiti, Beldar Sivni” (Jai Mahamaya Fishermen’s Cooperative Society), which currently has 21 active members.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, he also received a four-wheeled vehicle with a 40 percent subsidy. With the aid of this vehicle, he generates additional income by selling live fish at major markets such as Raipur, Kharora, Tilda, and Baloda Bazar. Through these various sources, his annual income has reached approximately ₹15 to ₹20 lakhs.
To procure the necessary resources for fish farming, Dhivar also avails loans of up to ₹3 lakhs from the District Cooperative Bank through a Kisan Credit Card (KCC) at a minimal interest rate; these funds are utilised for purchasing fish seeds, lime, and fishing nets. By availing the benefits of government schemes, Prakash Dhivar has not only become a self-reliant fish farmer but is also making a significant contribution to local-level economic empowerment by providing employment to approximately 15 to 20 people in the region.
