Swarna Matsya Yojana
A brackish-water aquaculture support scheme for Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas — seed stock and aerators from the government, up to ₹82,000 of assistance per bigha depending on the farming component chosen.
Run by: Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture, Aquatic Resources and Fishing Harbour, Government of West Bengal
- Shrimp monoculture
- ₹82,000/bigha
- Shrimp-mullet polyculture
- ₹75,000/bigha
- Vannamei shrimp monoculture
- ₹77,250/bigha
- Mud crab fattening
- ₹42,500/bigha
Overview
Cyclone Yaas struck West Bengal's coast in May 2021 and flooded brackish-water shrimp and crab ponds with saline water and debris across the south Bengal delta. The Department of Fisheries launched Swarna Matsya Yojana in 2021-22 as a flagship response, with administrative approval of ₹1,683.25 lakh to help affected brackish-water fish farmers in Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas get their ponds producing again.
The scheme runs as four separate farming components, each with its own government assistance per bigha: monoculture of shrimp (₹82,000), polyculture of shrimp with mullet (₹75,000), monoculture of Vannamei shrimp (₹77,250), and fattening of mud crab (₹42,500, using crabs of 150-200 gm size). The government's share covers seed stock — shrimp seed, mullet seed or water crabs — and aerators; the farmer contributes fertiliser, feed and probiotics for the growing cycle, on a unit area of 1 bigha per beneficiary.
Swarna Matsya Yojana continues to be listed by the Department of Fisheries among its current Programmes & Schemes alongside Matsyajeebi Bandhu and the Matsya Jeebi Credit Card, so a brackish-water farmer in the three notified districts should check with the district Fisheries office for the scheme's current component-wise allocation before assuming it has closed.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Government-supplied shrimp seed, mullet seed or water crabs (150-200 gm), plus aerators, under whichever of the four components is sanctioned.
- Assistance up to ₹82,000 per bigha for shrimp monoculture, the highest of the four components.
- ₹75,000 per bigha for shrimp-mullet polyculture and ₹77,250 per bigha for Vannamei shrimp monoculture.
- ₹42,500 per bigha for mud crab fattening, aimed at farmers whose ponds suit crab rather than shrimp culture.
- Targeted at the three districts hit hardest by Cyclone Yaas's saline flooding, rather than spread thin statewide.
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
- Brackish-water fish farmer in Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas or South 24 Parganas
- Pond or water body suitable for the chosen component — shrimp monoculture, shrimp-mullet polyculture, Vannamei shrimp, or mud crab fattening
- Able to contribute the farmer's share of fertiliser, feed and probiotics through the growing cycle
- Unit area of approximately 1 bigha per beneficiary claim
Not covered
- Farmers outside the three notified districts of Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas
- Freshwater-only ponds with no brackish-water access
- Area claims beyond the notified 1-bigha unit per beneficiary
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Proof of identity and address (Aadhaar, voter ID)
- Ownership or lease document for the brackish-water pond
- Fishermen registration card, if already issued
- Bank passbook first page
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Contact the district Fisheries office
Brackish-water farmers in Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas or South 24 Parganas approach the Assistant Director of Fisheries of the district to check current component-wise allocation and register interest.
- 2
Component selection and verification
The department verifies the pond and its suitability for the chosen component — shrimp monoculture, shrimp-mullet polyculture, Vannamei shrimp, or mud crab fattening — before sanctioning assistance.
- 3
Input supply and stocking
The department supplies seed stock (shrimp/mullet seed or water crabs) and aerators; the farmer stocks the pond and contributes fertiliser, feed and probiotics through the cycle.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- If your registered interest is not taken forward, the pond is wrongly judged unsuitable, or the sanctioned seed and aerators are not supplied for the season, take it to the Fisheries Extension Officer and the district Assistant Director of Fisheries, then the Deputy Director of Fisheries for the zone and the Director of Fisheries. Department helpline: 033-2357 0072.
- Beyond the department, use West Bengal's CMO grievance portal / Public Grievance Monitoring System at cmo.wb.gov.in, which is trackable and escalates to the Head of Department.
Frequently asked questions
Is Swarna Matsya Yojana only for farmers hit by Cyclone Yaas in 2021?
It was launched in 2021-22 specifically to help Yaas-affected brackish-water farmers in the three notified districts, and the Department of Fisheries continues to list it among its current schemes — check with the district office for the present year's allocation and coverage.
Which of the four components pays the most per bigha?
Shrimp monoculture, at up to ₹82,000 per bigha, followed by Vannamei shrimp monoculture at ₹77,250 and shrimp-mullet polyculture at ₹75,000. Mud crab fattening is ₹42,500 per bigha.
Do I get cash, or inputs?
The government's share is in kind — seed stock (shrimp seed, mullet seed or water crabs) and aerators. The farmer contributes fertiliser, feed and probiotics for the growing cycle.
How much pond area can one farmer claim?
The unit is about 1 bigha per beneficiary. A claim for a larger area than that is not covered under this scheme.
My pond suits crab, not shrimp — is there anything for me?
Yes. The mud-crab fattening component gives ₹42,500 per bigha and supplies water crabs of 150–200 gm to fatten, for ponds better suited to crab than shrimp.
Which districts does the scheme cover?
Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas — the three brackish-water districts hit hardest by Cyclone Yaas. A farmer outside these three districts is not covered.
Facts checked against wbfisheries.wb.gov.in on 8 September 2026. editorial policy.