Feed Based Fisheries Scheme
Half your fish-feed bill comes back — up to ₹22 a kilo — if you are running a cage, RAS or biofloc unit in one of six notified districts.
Run by: Directorate of Fisheries, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Cooperative Department, Government of Jharkhand
- Feed subsidy
- 50% or ₹22/kg, whichever is lower
- Systems covered
- Cage, RAS, Biofloc
- Districts
- 6 — Ranchi, Ramgarh, Koderma, Bokaro, Dhanbad, Seraikela
- Biofloc cap
- 2,000 kg feed/pond
- Payment
- DBT to bank account
Overview
Move a fish farmer from an open pond to a cage, a Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) or a biofloc tank, and the economics change overnight — stocking density goes up, but so does the feed bill, because these intensive systems live or die on how much protein-rich feed goes in every day. Feed is routinely the single largest running cost in such a unit, which is exactly the cost this scheme targets.
The Feed Based Fisheries Scheme reimburses 50 per cent of what a farmer spends on feed, capped at ₹22 per kilogram, for feed carrying at least 24 per cent protein. It currently runs in six districts — Ranchi, Ramgarh, Koderma, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Seraikela — and covers cage culture, RAS and biofloc farming, with biofloc units eligible for subsidy on up to 2,000 kg of feed per pond. The subsidy is paid by Direct Benefit Transfer once the claim, backed by a GST bill, is verified.
This feed cover sits inside a wider reservoir cage-culture push that Jharkhand began in 2011 under the National Mission for Protein Supplements (funded through Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana), which now runs roughly 3,625 cages across the state's dams — Chandil, Kanke and Getalsud (Ranchi region), Maithan (Dhanbad), Tenughat and Konar (Bokaro), and Tilaiya (Koderma) among them. That is why the feed scheme's six notified districts line up closely with where the cage clusters already sit — and it explains why the state co-operative fisheries federation runs feed mills in four of those six districts: Ranchi, Chandil (Seraikela), Dhanbad and Bokaro.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- 50% of your feed cost reimbursed, capped at ₹22 per kilogram for feed with at least 24% protein.
- Covers the three intensive systems where feed cost matters most — cage culture, RAS and biofloc.
- Biofloc units can claim subsidy on up to 2,000 kg of feed per pond.
- Money is credited directly to your bank account through DBT, with no cash handling.
- No overlap needed with other schemes — this is a dedicated feed-cost cover for intensive fish farming.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Active fish farmer operating a cage, RAS or biofloc unit in Ranchi, Ramgarh, Koderma, Bokaro, Dhanbad or Seraikela district
- At least one year of prior production record with the District Fisheries Office
- Feed purchased from an approved dealer against a proper GST bill
- Not already claiming feed subsidy for the same unit under another scheme
Not covered
- Feed bought without a GST bill or invoice
- Fish farming outside the six notified districts, for now
- Feed with protein content below 24%
- A unit already drawing feed subsidy under a different scheme
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card (identity and address proof)
- Bank passbook or account details
- GST bill/invoice for the feed purchased
- Previous year's production record
- Verification certificate from the District Fisheries Office
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Register your unit at the District Fisheries Office
Get your cage, RAS or biofloc unit on record along with your prior production history — this record is what the subsidy claim is checked against.
- 2
Buy feed and keep the GST bill
Purchase feed with at least 24% protein from an approved dealer and hold on to the original GST invoice — a claim without it will not be accepted.
- 3
Submit the claim and receive DBT
File the GST bill, production record and District Fisheries Office certificate; once verified, 50% of the cost (max ₹22/kg) is credited to your bank account.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- Delays in claim verification or DBT payment should first be raised with the District Fisheries Office where the unit is registered.
- If unresolved, escalate to CM Jansamvad — Jharkhand's general public-grievance cell — on the toll-free helpline 181 (24x7, alternate number 0651-2282201), through the portal at cmjansamvad.jharkhand.gov.in, or by email to [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Does this cover an ordinary earthen pond?
No. The scheme is written for intensive systems only — cage culture, Recirculatory Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and biofloc tanks. A regular pond does not qualify.
What if my feed has less than 24% protein?
It will not qualify for the subsidy. Check the protein content on the feed bag or bill before you buy — the scheme requires at least 24%.
I farm outside these six districts — can I still apply?
Not currently. The scheme is notified for Ranchi, Ramgarh, Koderma, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Seraikela districts only. Check with your District Fisheries Office in case of any expansion.
Does this scheme also help pay for building the pond or cage itself?
No — that is a separate scheme. New pond construction is subsidised at 90% for SC/ST farmers and 80% for others against a unit cost of ₹3 lakh per acre, and reservoir cages have historically carried subsidy of up to 90%. The Feed Based Fisheries Scheme covers only the ongoing feed cost once a cage, RAS or biofloc unit is already running.
Where can I buy feed that qualifies for the subsidy?
The state co-operative fisheries federation runs feed mills in Ranchi, Chandil (Seraikela), Dhanbad and Bokaro — four of the six notified districts — besides other approved private dealers. Buy from any of them, but keep the GST bill either way; a claim without it will not be accepted.
Is there any accident cover for fish farmers alongside this scheme?
Yes, but it is a separate benefit — the fisheries department's Group Accident Insurance covers registered fish farmers aged 18-70 for ₹5 lakh on death or total disability and ₹2.5 lakh on partial disability. Ask your District Fisheries Office about enrolling.
What if my DBT payment is delayed or my claim is rejected without a clear reason?
Take it up with the District Fisheries Office first. If it stays unresolved, escalate to CM Jansamvad on the toll-free 181 helpline or cmjansamvad.jharkhand.gov.in.
Facts checked against www.myscheme.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.