In an inspiring story of women empowerment, entrepreneurship and self-reliance, 53-year-old Usha Rani, originally from Anwal village in Rohtak district and presently residing at Sainik Vihar in Pitampura, Delhi, has emerged as a successful fish entrepreneur.
Without any formal professional background in fisheries, Usha turned her childhood interest in fish farming into a successful livelihood enterprise and set an example for aspiring women entrepreneurs and progressive farmers.
Her journey reflects how women can successfully adopt non-traditional livelihood opportunities and become economically independent through innovation, resilience and government support.
Usha, educated up to Class 10, was primarily a homemaker before entering the fisheries sector. Her interest in fish farming dates back several decades, with her initial exposure beginning in 1984, through a Panchayati pond. However, the real turning point in her entrepreneurial journey came in 2021.
In 2021, she established a fish farming unit on her 4-acre land located on Anwal Road in Kalanaur tehsil, Rohtak, focusing on Pangasius and Indian Major Carp (IMC) species, with an initial stocking of approximately 85,000 fish seed.
Her commitment and scientific approach yielded impressive results within the very first year itself. She achieved a production of approximately 75 metric tonnes of fish and generated an income of nearly Rs 11 lakh, establishing fish farming as a sustainable and profitable enterprise.
Her success received a major boost under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), under which she received a subsidy support of approximately Rs 9 lakh, enabling her to strengthen infrastructure and expand operations.
Today, Usha has expanded her fish farming enterprise from 4 acres to 11 acres and her annual income has increased to approximately Rs 12 lakh, making her an inspiring example of rural entrepreneurship and women-led economic empowerment.
Usha expressed gratitude to the fisheries department for continuous technical guidance and institutional support throughout her journey.
She now aims to motivate and train other individuals, especially women and rural entrepreneurs, to explore aquaculture as a viable and profitable livelihood opportunity.