The fish farming potential in the state lies unutilised. The Department of Fisheries has failed to motivate farmers, especially in lower areas, to take to fish farming in a commercial manner. Just a few farmers are involved in fish farming in a commercial manner on their own initiative. One of them, Baljit Singh Tur, a farmer from Una district, was awarded by the state government for carrying out successful fish farming. Baljit has successfully converted his waterlogged land into a fish farm and is earning about Rs 50,000 per acre for fish farming. Sources said fish farming, if done in a professional manner, could raise the net income of farmers up to Rs 1 lakh per acre per annum. Baljit Singh said it was boom time for fish farmers in the region. Even the wholesale price of fish had increased to about Rs 50 per kg. However, the farmers of Himachal were missing the revolution due to lack of motivation. Fish farming is turning into a lucrative venture in the region due to increasing demand for fish in cities of Punjab. Data collected by The Tribune revealed that there was a daily demand of about 4,000 kg fish in the Amritsar wholesale market. A similar quantum was required in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Due to lesser production locally, dealers in the region import fish from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh. The sea fish is imported from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. However, the sea fish is available just in winters as in summer it is difficult to transport it within the stipulated time. The varieties that are imported include sangara, mali and sal. Pangas that is commonly known as pyasi, a cheap boneless fish, is imported from fish farms in Andhra Pradesh. The boneless varieties like sal and mali are sold at rates ranging from Rs 150 to Rs 180 per kg. In Himachal, however, the Fisheries Department is concentrating on promoting the farming of just trout fish. The trout fish is a high-end product that has its market just in metros. Last year the trout farmers rued the fact they were not finding a proper market for their produce due to decrease in numbers of high end foreign tourists coming to country. The other major fish production in the state comes from two man-made lakes - the Gobind Sagar Lake on the Bhakra Dam and the Pong Dam lake. However, the fisheries production in lakes has its limitations. It is supporting fishermen rather than fish farmers. At the Pong Dam lake, the Fisheries Department is also in direct conflict with the Wildlife Department. The latter claims that commercial fishing cannot be allowed in the lake as it is part of the international wetland area. If farmers in the state, especially in lower areas are motivated to take up farming of common fish varieties that can be sold easily in the adjoining states, it can boost their income. The farmers also blame certain government policies that, they say, are a bottleneck in promoting fish farming. There is no tax on income generated from traditional crops. However, fish farmers have to pay tax on a par with the industry. The hassles of paying taxes desists the farmers from diversifying to fish farming. The government should give incentives similar to traditional agriculture to fish farmers to increase the production. It will help farmers increase their income and the government can also achieve its diversification targets.