Fisheries Department and ITBP Hold Meeting to Facilitate Procurement of Locally Produced Rainbow Trout from Fish Farmers
Gangtok | 16th March 2026: A meeting was convened on 16th March 2026 at Sector Headquarters, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Gangtok, to deliberate on the procurement of Rainbow Trout from fish farmers of Sikkim by ITBP units in the State. The meeting was attended by officials from the Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, officers of ITBP, and representatives of Fisheries Cooperative Societies and Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs).
The meeting was chaired by Shri Sanjeev Kr. Singh, DIG, ITBP, and was attended by Senior officers from ITBP, Dr. Karma Doma Bhutia, Additional Director (Fisheries), Shri Rochak Subba, Deputy Director (Fisheries), and Shri Surendra Bhandari, Assistant Director (Fisheries), along with representatives of four fisheries cooperative societies and two FFPOs engaged in trout farming in the State.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the modalities for procurement of locally produced Rainbow Trout by ITBP units located in Gangtok and Mangan districts. The deliberations focused on demand assessment, quality specifications of fish, supply capacity of the cooperative societies, pricing, inspection procedures, payment mechanisms, and the supply schedule. The participants also discussed the framework for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate regular supply of trout fish to ITBP establishments.
The Fisheries Department highlighted that Sikkim has emerged as a leading producer of high-quality Rainbow Trout, and the proposed procurement arrangement will provide a stable institutional market for local fish farmers. The initiative is expected to significantly address the marketing challenges faced by trout farmers and strengthen the value chain for this high-value cold-water fish.
Representatives of the cooperative societies and FFPOs expressed their willingness to supply trout fish to ITBP units and assured their commitment to maintaining the required quality standards and supply schedules.
Both the Fisheries Department and ITBP emphasized that the initiative will promote local production, enhance farmers’ income, and strengthen collaboration between government institutions and local producer organizations. The meeting concluded with a consensus to work towards finalizing the modalities and operationalizing the supply mechanism in the near future.
