The Bihar government is giving free training in modern fish farming to 9,685 fish farmers and fishermen during the financial year 2026-27, under the state’s Fisheries Training and Extension Scheme. The programme will run in 332 batches at recognised fisheries institutions within Bihar and outside the state — and the training itself costs the farmer nothing.
The initiative, run by the Department of Animal & Fisheries Resources (Dairy, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department), aims to introduce farmers to modern fisheries technologies and scientific methods used in India and abroad, so they can raise production, cut costs and improve their annual income.
What the training covers
- Modern, scientific fish farming techniques and pond management
- Newer aquaculture technologies that improve productivity
- Practical methods to reduce input costs and raise farm income
- Exposure to practices used by successful fish farmers in India and abroad
Key details at a glance
| Scheme | Fisheries Training and Extension Scheme, Bihar |
| Financial year | 2026-27 |
| Beneficiaries | 9,685 fish farmers and fishermen |
| Batches | 332 batches through the year |
| Training fee | Free (only a small registration fee applies) |
| Registration fee | ₹100 at most institutions; ₹250 for training at CIFE, Kakinada |
| Where | Recognised fisheries institutions within and outside Bihar |
Who gets priority?
Farmers receiving training for the first time will be given preference. Those who have already undergone training can be selected again only after a gap of three years. The department has invited online applications for the programme.
Who is eligible?
- People engaged in fish farming in private or leased ponds
- Farmers using government ponds or water bodies under water-tax arrangements
- Active members of block-level fishermen cooperative societies
- Farmers selected by the District Fisheries Office for bank loans, self-financed projects or benefits under fisheries-related schemes
Travel allowance: what to know
Participants selected for training at institutions outside Bihar will receive travel expenses for their journey. Those attending training at institutions or centres located within the state will not be eligible for travel expenses. The registration fee has to be deposited at the concerned district fisheries office.
How to apply
- Apply online through the Animal & Fisheries Resources Department’s official website, or visit your District Fisheries Office.
- Keep your Aadhaar and pond/farming documents ready.
- Deposit the registration fee (₹100, or ₹250 for CIFE Kakinada) at the district fisheries office.
- First-time trainees are prioritised — apply early, since 332 batches will fill through the year.
Note: No closing date for applications was announced in the reports of this scheme. Batches run through FY 2026-27, so applicants should confirm the current batch schedule with their District Fisheries Office. The images in this post are illustrations.
Why this matters
Bihar is pushing hard to turn fisheries into a major rural livelihood — alongside this training push, the state has announced subsidies for native-species conservation, pearl farming and chaur-land fisheries development in 2026-27. For a small farmer, free hands-on training at a reputed institute is often the difference between a pond that barely breaks even and one that pays. If you farm fish in Bihar — or plan to start — this is a scheme worth applying for.
Sources: Indian Masterminds, “Bihar to Provide Free Fish Farming Training to 9,685 Farmers Under 2026-27 Scheme” (12 September 2026) and “Blue Revolution in Bihar: 9,685 Fish Farmers to Get Free Modern Training”; Aryan Age, “Government to Offer Free Fish Farming Training to Boost Production and Income”. Figures verified 25 October 2026. No deadline is stated in the sources, and none is claimed here.