The project represents an investment of approximately US$120 million.
Khyber Group, through its new division, Khyber Aquaculture, has established India's largest fully integrated, sustainable Himalayan trout farming facility based on a Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS).
This will turn the region's trout industry into an integrated, export-oriented ecosystem, supported by advanced aquaculture technologies and local farming communities.
The facility will be located on the banks of the Sindh River in Akhal, Kangan, in the Ganderbal district of Kashmir, covering an area of 8 acres. The project represents an investment of more than ₹100 crore (around US$120 million).
Currently, it has a production capacity of 1,500 metric tons per year, with plans to increase this to 7,000 metric tons annually within the next three to five years. The hatchery will also be able to produce up to 20 million fingerlings each year.
"Our cluster model is designed to integrate production, hatcheries, processing, and supply chains while supporting more than 300 local farmers under the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) through modern aquaculture systems and improved market access," said Umar Tramboo, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Khyber Aquaculture.
Khyber Aquaculture uses eyed eggs sourced from the United States and Denmark. Its precision control systems, developed in Denmark, France, and Germany, are designed to increase fish survival rates by 25–30%.
Thanks to Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) technology, which extends the shelf life to 10 days when chilled and up to 6 months when frozen, both fresh/chilled and frozen trout products will be available from Q3 FY2026.
"It has taken us more than five years to be fully ready, but the wait has been worth it. With this launch, we aim to transform India's aquaculture sector by setting new standards for fish health and operational control. We want to become a platform for scaling trout farming through data-driven systems tailored to local conditions," added Tramboo.
According to the market research and consulting firm IMARC Group, the Indian trout market is expected to reach 7,964.7 tons by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.86% during the 2026–2034 period.
