Khyber Group invests US$11.7M in India’s largest RAS trout farming facility
Company says the integrated facility will support local farmers and expand trout production using recirculating aquaculture technology. *
INDIA – The Khyber Group has launched Khyber Aquaculture, a fully integrated recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) based Himalayan trout farming facility in Jammu and Kashmir, with the company describing it as the largest of its kind in India.
The facility is located on an eight-acre site along the River Sindh in Akhal, Kangan, in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and was developed with an investment of more than US$11.7 million (over ₹100 crore), using technology designed to recycle water and enable year-round trout production under controlled environmental conditions.
Khyber Aquaculture has an initial production capacity of 1,500 metric tonnes annually and plans to increase output to 7,000 metric tonnes a year within the next three to five years, while its hatchery is designed to produce up to 20 million fingerlings each year.
Chairman and Managing Director Umar Tramboo said the project is intended to expand cold water aquaculture in Jammu and Kashmir by combining hatcheries, fish production, processing facilities and supply chains while working with more than 300 local farmers through the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme.
The company added that the integrated operation, which includes processing and packaging units, is expected to create more than 3,000 indirect livelihood opportunities across the region.
Tramboo said the facility represents more than five years of planning and development, adding that the company intends to scale trout farming through technology-driven production systems adapted to local environmental conditions.
Technology and sustainability focus
The farm uses rainbow trout ova sourced from American and Danish breeding programmes together with precision-controlled equipment supplied from Denmark, France and Germany to manage production conditions.
According to the company, the production system is designed to improve fish survival rates by 25% to 30% while reducing feed conversion ratios through controlled water quality, including chilling systems that maintain temperatures between 10°C and 14°C and dissolved oxygen levels of 8 to 12 milligrams per litre.
The processing section includes hygienic cleaning lines and Modified Atmosphere Packaging technology, which the company says extends product shelf life to 10 days under chilled storage and up to six months when frozen.
The company also said the facility incorporates water recirculation, biosecurity measures, responsible feed management, waste handling and environmental monitoring as part of its sustainability programme.
Industry estimates cited by the company indicate that India’s trout market reached 4,698.7 tonnes in 2025 and is projected to increase to 7,964.7 tonnes by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 5.86% between 2026 and 2034.
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