Union Minister Inaugurates India’s First Integrated RAS Trout Farm on Hyderabad Outskirts

union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh inaugurated SmartGreen Aquaculture’s India’s first Integrated Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) trout farm at Kandukur Mandal on the city outskirts on Monday.

Built with an initial investment of USD 6 million, the farm has a total production capacity of 1,200 metric tonnes and employs 200 people across a 2-acre grow-out and hatchery facility.

Rajiv Singh popularly called Lallan Singh, described the project as a “path-breaking milestone” for the fisheries sector, stating that it “goes beyond imagination” and demonstrates the transformative potential of technology in aquaculture.

Highlighting the significance of the initiative, he said that the successful cultivation of trout, a cold-water species, in Hyderabad proves that any fish species can be produced anywhere in India with the adoption of the right technology.

He emphasized that temperature-controlled aquaculture systems can overcome traditional geographical and climatic limitations, opening new avenues for fisheries development across the country.

Reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to supporting innovation in fisheries, the union Minister said the Ministry has consistently backed such initiatives and will continue to provide assistance through various schemes and funding mechanisms.

He said that entrepreneurs adopting RAS and other advanced aquaculture technologies are playing a crucial role in strengthening both the fisheries and agriculture sectors.

The inauguration ceremony was also attended by G. Kishan Reddy, union Minister of Coal and Mines; S. P. Singh Baghel, union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Panchayati Raj; George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Minority Affairs; and Vakiti Srihari, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries,Government of Telangana.

Speaking on the occasion, Kishan Reddy said "Innovative projects like SGA reflect the promising future of Indian aquaculture for specialized fish species in warmer inland regions. This startup demonstrates how precision engineering, sustainability, and entrepreneurship can create high-value opportunities within the sector."

Hyderabad-based startup SmartGreen Aquaculture (SGA) founder, Aditya Rithvik Narra, a 31-year-old engineer turned aquaculture entrepreneur, said, "Trout farming in India has traditionally been limited by geography. Our precision-engineered farm demonstrates that advanced closed-loop water system aquaculture technologies using RAS can successfully bring premium cold-water species like rainbow trout closer to Indian consumers”.

Our goal is to contribute to India’s blue revolution mission by building a reliable, sustainable, and scalable model for high-value aquaculture species,he said.

The farm integrates hatcheries, grow-out systems, processing, and e-commerce under one roof, allowing direct delivery of fresh trout while maintaining strict biosecurity, environmental control, and traceability. The hatchery has a production capacity of 1.2 million fingerlings per year, and the grow-out facility operates 44 circular tanks at an average stocking density of 70 kg/m, he added..

SGA also plans to establish a flexi-scale premium Microalgae Biorefinery, producing biomass for nutraceuticals, aquafeed, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable agriculture, expected to be operational by 2026–27.

The startup will primarily serve India’s domestic premium seafood market through retail, hospitality, institutional channels, and its online store.

Plans are also underway to develop indigenous hatchery capabilities to ensure 100% self-sufficiency in trout egg production, while engaging local communities in technical training and income-generating opportunities.

India is the 2nd largest producer of fish globally, supported by a strong policy framework such as the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and Blue Economy initiative.

The global aquaculture market is valued to grow from USD 296 billion (2023) to USD 421 billion (2030). While the Microalgae Industry is expanding rapidly. It is valued to grow from USD 1.8 billion (2023) to USD 3.5 billion (2030).