Shimla, Mar 3 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh will develop 100 trout farms for production of carp fish this year. It will provide employment to over 550 people, the government said here on Sunday.

Ponds will also be constructed in 10 hectares.

The government plans to set up two trout hatcheries under the public-private partnership (PPP) initiative to provide seeds. A smoked trout and fillet canning centre would also be set up in the Kullu district.

Three retail outlets, one each in Kangra, Chamba and Shimla district, will be established to ensure appropriate marketing support to the trout production.

Keeping in view the damage due to flash floods, the government has announced an insurance scheme for farming units.

The overall fish production in the state has increased considerably last year. In 2018, 9,302.44 tonnes fishes worth Rs 11,413.99 lakh were produced.

During the same period, 546.31 lakh carp seed and 15.118 lakh trout seed were produced.

Trout, both brown and rainbow, are found in the Beas, Sutlej and Ravi rivers in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh.

To promote fish farming in the private sector, the Fisheries Department has proposed to construct 20 hectare fish ponds, 110 trout units, 11 trout hatcheries, four feed mills and three retail outlets.