107/2026-2027 

Dated Aizawl, the 25th May, 2026: Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh ji, alias Lalan Singh, who is currently on an official visit to Mizoram, today chaired a Regional Review Meeting of the eight Northeastern states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura — at the High Court Hall, MINECO, to review the progress of the Northeastern States and the implementation of various Central schemes in the region.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying(FAH&D) Shri George Kurian ji, Ministers in charge of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying from the Northeastern states, Chairman of the National Dairy Development Board(NDDB) Shri Meenesh Shah ji, members from National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) along with officials from the Central and State Governments.

Expressing gratitude to the Government of Mizoram for their hospitality and organizing today's event, Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh stated that the Central Government aims to showcase the beauty and diversity of the Northeastern states and that he was delighted to witness the hidden beauty of Mizoram. Highlighting Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for the development of the Northeast, the Minister said that the Central Government is committed to doing everything possible to realize that vision. He emphasized that development in fisheries, animal husbandry and dairy sectors could significantly contribute to the economic development of the Northeast and added that these sectors would bring progress not only for individuals but for the entire region.

Speaking specifically on fisheries, the Minister highlighted various initiatives launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, including the Blue Revolution, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PM-MSY). The Minister stated that owing to these initiatives, fish production in the Northeastern region increased from 3.78 lakh tonnes in 2014 to 7.05 lakh tonnes in 2025. He further stated that over the past 12 years (2014–2025), the Central Government had provided a total of Rs. 2,228 crore to the Northeastern states, distributed as follows:

Assam – Rs. 614.11 crore

Arunachal Pradesh – Rs. 246.03 crore

Manipur – Rs. 236.41 crore

Meghalaya – Rs. 240.32 crore

Mizoram – Rs. 246.79 crore

Nagaland – Rs. 209.49 crore

Sikkim – Rs. 109.41 crore

Tripura – Rs. 322.23 crore

The Minister expressed his delight at attending the inauguration of India's first Integrated Aquapark at Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh and announced that out of 11 more planned Integrated Aquaparks, 4 would be established in the Northeast region. He invited Mizoram to submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and complete the necessary land acquisition formalities to set up a similar facility in the State. Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh ji also announced that the central government has approved the Mizoram government’s proposal to establish a Fish Marketing Center at an estimated cost of ₹50 crore in the State.

Additionally, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh ji highlighted the immense potential for ornamental fisheries, coldwater fisheries, and inland fisheries in the Northeast. He noted that the central government wishes to promote cluster-based fish farming by setting up 8 notified clusters in the region, upgrade the existing National Fisheries Development Board facility in Assam, and digitally onboard all fish farmers in the area. The Minister further stated that the government is ready to invest ₹200–300 crore under the Mission Amrit Sarovar in the Northeast. He promised that after the monsoon season, top officials from the NDDB, NFDB, and the central ministry would tour the northeastern states to assess their needs and potential first-hand.

On animal husbandry, the Minister stated that the Northeastern states had achieved growth of 37% in milk production, 40% in egg production and 15% in meat production. However, he urged the states to use this progress as fresh momentum to unleash their true potential. The Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening cooperative societies across the Northeast, expanding artificial insemination services, improving infrastructure, promoting technology adoption and enhancing human resource capacity building. Referring to livestock diseases, the Minister said the Central Government is making every effort to develop vaccines for disease prevention. He also announced plans to establish an NDDB Regional Office in Guwahati.

Sharing his vision for the northeastern states to achieve self-sufficiency in fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairy production, the Union Minister invited State ministers and officials to work hand-in-hand with the Center, monitor the implementation of various schemes, adopt best practices, and ensure timely completion of projects.

Minister of State Shri George Kurian ji also spoke on the occasion, stating that the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is working towards improving livelihoods, empowering women and promoting entrepreneurship among the people of the Northeast. He urged the northeastern states to become self-reliant, move away from depending on outside supplies, and actively promote their own state-produced goods.

Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Naresh Pal Gangwar also addressed the gathering and stated that the Central Government is fully committed to supporting the self-reliance of Northeastern states. He urged all states to work diligently and understand that the success of various government schemes depends largely on their active participation.

Also speaking at the event, Secretary of the Department of Fisheries Shri Abhilaksh Likhi said that efforts are underway to develop the Northeastern states into export hubs. He also encouraged the states to freely communicate their needs to the Central Government.

During the meeting, Ministers from the Northeastern states in charge of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying presented the status, achievements and future plans of their respective states and also highlighted common challenges faced in the region. They emphasized the importance of youth training, cold chain storage facilities, greater digital deployment, infrastructure development and timely release of funds for the region.

At today's meeting, Shri Sudhir Kumar, Principal Secretary , GAD, Mizoram and Chief Secretary(i/c) welcomed the gathering. Joint Secretary of Fisheries, Shri Sagar Mehra, presented the 'NER Vision 2030' and explained the various schemes and programs under the Dept. of Fisheries via a PowerPoint presentation. Chairman of the NDDB, Shri Meenesh Shah, briefed the gathering on future dairy development prospects in the North East Region, while Additional Secretary of the Dept. of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Smt. Varsha Joshi, spoke on current initiatives and upcoming plans in the livestock sector.

During the meeting, the Union Minister also officially launched a baseline village-level survey to expand the scope of Multipurpose Dairy Cooperative Societies (MDCS), a film on African Swine Fever, an educational booklet on 'Package of practices on Pig Farming', and various projects and schemes tailored for the northeastern states. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).