Bathinda, July 13 -- A group of enterprising fish farmers in Punjab have extended the state's shrimp farming calendar by successfully harvesting two shrimp crops a year, unlocking fresh income opportunities from the off-season.

What began as an experiment by a handful of growers in 2021 has, over the past five years, evolved into a proven farming model. Now in its sixth year, the practice has been endorsed as viable by the state fisheries department, encouraging more shrimp farmers to explore an additional annual harvest and maximise returns from saline and waterlogged fields, normally not fit for agriculture.

Traditionally, shrimp farming in Punjab, done on nearly 1,000 acres, was confined to a single production cycle between June and ...