Long term growth of freshwater aquaculture in India-drivers and policy

Freshwater aquaculture in India is one of the fastest growing food production segments. Available data for production of inland fisheries constitutes information on inland, brackish water capture and culture resources. Among them, freshwater aquaculture is a fastest growing and having largest share to inland fisheries. Analysis is made on past and present growth rates of inland fisheries in India as proxy to freshwater aquaculture. The drivers of the aquaculture growth in India are resource availability, technology, organisation, entrepreneurship, climate and environment, market and price, governance and policies. Five scenarios are built with 50% deceleration, 25% deceleration, continuation with present, 25% acceleration, and 50% acceleration of the present growth rates by 2030. The paper made an analysis of critical factor responsible for the sustained growth of freshwater aquaculture in India.