Karnataka Invites Women SHGs for Fish Farming Scheme

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 9 July 2026

Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Karnataka now have the opportunity to earn up to Rs. 50,000 extra per year by practicing fish farming in the community under the Matsya Sanjeevini Scheme.

The State Government of Karnataka has called upon the qualified SHGs to apply and participate in the program, which is being carried out as part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) scheme. This will in turn strengthen rural livelihoods and promote women's economic empowerment.

Through this programme, village tanks and minor water bodies are being turned into viable sources of income by delegating the management of fisheries to women’s federations in villages. This is done with the aim of providing livelihoods through community-based management of the natural resources.

By adopting scientific methods for fisheries and encouraging community ownership, the effort aims to help in creating a livelihood along with improving fisheries output. In order to facilitate the implementation of this scheme, the Fisheries Department has listed 1,229 small irrigation tanks with less than 10 hectares in collaboration with the gram panchayats and women SHGs.

Key Highlights:

• Karnataka’s women SHGs can earn up to Rs 50,000 annually through community fish farming
• 1,229 village tanks identified to expand women-led aquaculture enterprises
• SHGs receive training, 50% fingerling subsidy, and marketing support

Interested groups can participate in this program by applying through their respective gram panchayat federation. After being selected, the gram panchayat will sign an agreement for a period of either three years or five years so that SHGs can practice fish farming.

The government of Karnataka has launched the Matsya Sanjeevini scheme for which application forms are now available, providing women-run self help groups the chance to be independent and live a respectable life by engaging in community fish farming. The scheme has been launched with the objective of increasing financial freedom among rural women through aquaculture.

In Mandya, 49 women SHGs have been provided with almost 9 lakh fingerlings of fish, thereby providing self-employment to 245 rural women. Likewise, fish farming has been taken up by 38 women SHGs in Kolar, whereas in Chikmagalur, 226 women’s federations have shown interest in the program. Currently, the members of the district are being trained in aquaculture techniques.

For the benefit of the participating SHGs, the Fisheries Department will offer end-to-end support by way of capacity building programs, subsidies in the form of high-quality fish fingerlings at 50%, marketing equipment worth Rs 25,000 per SHG, and assistance in creating outlets to enhance their marketability.

On a larger level, the scheme is supported by the broader Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), where women beneficiaries receive enhanced financial support for fisheries projects.