Belagavi (Karnataka), March 29 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised a farmer in this city for his success in fish farming during his 'Mann Ki Baat' address, citing it as an example of how innovation in agriculture can boost incomes and inspire rural youth.
The farmer, Raju Shivalingappa Huddar (27), from the village of Bodakyanatti in the Belagavi taluk, has become a successful entrepreneur by adopting modern fish farming practices, particularly biofloc technology, to cultivate murrel (snakehead) fish.
Raju, who holds a degree in arts, initially aspired to join the Army but turned to self-employment after failing to secure a position.
After evaluating options such as dairy farming, he chose aquaculture and committed himself to learning scientific methods before setting up his enterprise.
"I wanted to do something innovative. In 2023–24, I decided to use one acre of our four-acre land for fish farming. My father and brother supported me," Raju told