Khyber Group Launches India’s Largest RAS-Based Trout Farming Facility in Kashmir
Srinagar, June 30 (TNT): The Khyber Group has launched Khyber Aquaculture, described as India’s largest fully integrated, sustainable Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS)-based Himalayan trout farming facility, with an investment of over ₹100 crore in Jammu and Kashmir.
Located on the banks of the River Sindh at Akhal in Ganderbal district, the eight-acre facility aims to transform Kashmir’s trout industry into an integrated, export-oriented ecosystem by combining advanced aquaculture technology with local farming communities, the company said in a release here on Tuesday.
The company said the technology-driven facility has an initial annual production capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes, which is planned to be expanded to 7,000 metric tonnes over the next three to five years. Its hatchery is capable of producing up to 20 million fingerlings annually.
Chairman and Managing Director Umar Tramboo said the project was designed to expand cold-water aquaculture in Jammu and Kashmir through a cluster model integrating hatcheries, production, processing and supply chains.
He said the initiative would support more than 300 local farmers under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) by providing access to modern aquaculture systems and markets.
The company said the project includes in-house production, processing and packaging facilities and is expected to generate over 3,000 indirect livelihood opportunities across the region.
According to Tramboo, the project has taken more than five years to develop and is intended to set new benchmarks in India’s aquaculture sector through data-driven farming systems and improved fish health management.
Khyber Aquaculture uses American- and Danish-bred trout ova along with precision-controlled systems sourced from Denmark, France and Germany to improve survival rates, reduce feed conversion ratios and minimise disease risks.
The facility has been designed to meet international export standards and features hyper-hygienic processing lines, Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) technology, precision chilling systems maintaining water temperatures between 10°C and 14°C, continuous oxygenation and advanced cold-chain infrastructure.
The company said its sustainability framework includes water recirculation through RAS technology, biosecurity measures, responsible feed management, waste management and environmental monitoring to minimise freshwater consumption while maintaining fish health and production efficiency.
Khyber Aquaculture said it plans to develop both domestic and export markets by leveraging Kashmir’s favourable climatic conditions and the growing global demand for premium, traceable and sustainably farmed seafood.
Citing industry estimates, the company said India’s trout market stood at 4,698.7 tonnes in 2025 and is projected to grow to 7,964.7 tonnes by 2034 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.86 per cent.
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