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Uttar Pradesh is poised for a significant expansion in its fisheries sector, with investment proposals worth ₹1,407 crore received from 30 companies. The planned investments are expected to create employment opportunities for more than 2,000 young people across multiple districts, including Varanasi, Barabanki and Amethi.

According to officials, the state’s Fisheries Department has started preparatory work to translate these proposals into on-ground projects. The investments cover a range of activities, such as fish processing, fish feed manufacturing and related infrastructure, which are seen as key to strengthening the fisheries value chain in the state.

A large portion of the proposals emerged from the Meen Mahotsav held in late February, where companies expressed interest in investing around ₹1,200 crore. Earlier, additional proposals worth ₹207 crore were received during the Matsya Nivesh Shikhar Sammelan organised in December. Together, these commitments form the current investment pipeline for the sector.

Among the proposed projects, Oro Sundaram Foods and Feeds Private Limited has indicated plans to invest ₹300 crore in Varanasi. Other companies, including Probus Smart Things Private Limited, Godrej Agrovet Limited and Nexgen, have proposed investments of about ₹200 crore each. Deepak Nexgen Feeds Private Limited has outlined plans to invest ₹100 crore in Barabanki for a fish feed plant.

Nexgen Feeds Private Limited, headquartered in Andhra Pradesh, has also proposed setting up a fish processing facility in Uttar Pradesh with an estimated investment of ₹200 crore. Company representatives have said the processing plant is expected to be completed by 2028 and could employ over 150 people. The fish feed plant in Barabanki, planned with an investment of ₹100 crore, is targeted for completion by 2027 and is projected to generate around 300 jobs.

Officials say the scale and diversity of these proposals highlight growing private sector interest in fisheries as a viable agribusiness segment. The sector is increasingly being viewed as a source of income diversification for farmers and a contributor to rural employment. If implemented as planned, the projects could play a role in strengthening production capacity, improving supply chains and expanding market access for fish products within and beyond the state.