PMMSY Biofloc Ponds (Freshwater)

The Department of Fisheries, through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), funds the building of biofloc ponds in freshwater areas. Inputs are covered at ₹4 lakh per hectare, as listed under item 1.12 of the scheme's activity list.

A single unit measures 0.1 hectare and is benchmarked at ₹14 lakh. Against this, government assistance works out to ₹5.6 lakh per unit for a general beneficiary, and ₹8.4 lakh per unit for a beneficiary belonging to SC/ST or a woman. An individual may claim a maximum of 2 units of 0.1 ha, while a group or society may claim up to 20 units. A cooperative project can therefore be scaled considerably beyond what an individual farm can access.

Applications are routed through the Fisheries Department of the concerned State or Union Territory.

- Draft a proposal covering how many 0.1 ha biofloc units you plan to construct, using the ₹14 lakh per unit benchmark. - File the proposal with your District or State Fisheries Officer under PMMSY. - Enclose land documents, particulars of water and power availability, and a category certificate if you are claiming the higher rate. - Groups must additionally furnish registration and member details. - The State Fisheries Department appraises and sanctions the proposal under the Annual Action Plan. - Funds are released once the completed units have been physically verified.

State and UT Fisheries Departments assess proposals for conformity with PMMSY activity norms and unit costs, rank them within the outlay fixed in the approved Annual Action Plan, and pass them on for sanction. Assistance is released only after the asset created has been physically verified.