Raju Shivalingappa Huddara, a 27-year-old BA graduate from Bodakyanatti village in Karnataka’s Belagavi district, has emerged as a successful rural entrepreneur through fish farming, earning lakhs and receiving praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After unsuccessful attempts to join the Army and a stint in dairy farming, Raju turned to aquaculture. He adopted biofloc technology to cultivate maral fish on one acre of his family’s four-acre land. With an investment of around ₹31 lakh, he set up four scientifically designed ponds equipped with aerators, pipelines, probiotics, and monitoring systems.
His venture delivered strong returns, generating ₹25 lakh from the first batch within eight months and ₹22 lakh from the second. He now expects even higher income from the third cycle.
Raju credited social worker Shivananda Neelannavar for supporting him financially and boosting his confidence. To gain expertise, he spent nearly a year travelling to cities such as Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Tumkur, and Mandya for hands-on training.
“Traditional farming was not profitable. I wanted to try something innovative, and fish farming gave me that opportunity,” Raju said.
The farm follows high-density stocking with constant oxygen supply and close monitoring of water quality, including pH, ammonia, and TDS levels. The fish are fed high-protein diets thrice daily, along with regular water management and disease control measures.
His produce has strong market demand, with traders from Mushirabad in Hyderabad purchasing live fish directly at ₹250–₹320 per kg. The venture has also improved his family’s financial condition and created local employment opportunities.
His father, Shivalingappa Huddara, said the family’s situation has changed significantly. “Earlier, our land gave limited returns. Now, we are building a house and living comfortably,” he said.
Raju’s achievement gained national recognition after Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted his work in the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme, praising fish farming as a key driver of rural innovation and economic growth.
Expressing his happiness, Raju said he felt honoured to be mentioned by the Prime Minister. He noted that the recognition has brought attention not only to his work but also to small farmers involved in aquaculture across rural India.
“I am very happy that PM Modi spoke about fish farming. It is a matter of pride for a small village farmer like me,” he said, adding that such encouragement motivates farmers to adopt sustainable practices.
Fisheries Department officials have also lauded his efforts, calling him a role model. Experts say his success highlights the potential of modern aquaculture techniques like biofloc in improving income and sustainability.
Despite challenges such as fungal infections and water quality issues, Raju managed them with proper treatment, regular monitoring, and guidance from fisheries officials, ensuring healthy fish growth.
