Born in a small village, Param in Kannur, Dinil Prasad was raised in the heart of this lush landscape. He went on to join the Indian Army when he was 26 years old. He was stationed in the artillery department of the Indian Army in Jammu, leading a life defined by routine and discipline for over five years.

Despite the security of a government job, the calling of the serene waters and the promise of a life back in Kerala became too strong to ignore. So, he made a bold decision to leave his army career to pursue caged fish farming voluntarily – a decision that puzzled and troubled his family.

“My family didn’t support my decision to leave the army for fish farming. They were upset, even abusing me for leaving a stable job. I am just glad that they didn’t throw me out of the house,” he recalls in a conversation with The Better India.

“They were worried about the risks and uncertainties associated with entrepreneurship, especially in fish farming, which they viewed as unpredictable and financially unstable,” adds Dinil.

Despite this lack of familial support, Dinil remained determined.

Soldier to entrepreneur

It was a group of women, who inspired Dinil to venture into caged fish farming. A YouTube video featuring these women’s success in the business grabbed his attention, and he pursued the idea.

It was a revelation for Dinil, who realised that the conditions near his own village, with rivers and resources, could facilitate such a business.

“Kerala is a state that is naturally gifted with water resources all over – Arabian Sea on the west and 44 rivers. If we leverage this, we can generate employment and prosper like others,” he shares.

While Kerala’s daily fish consumption is estimated at 1,742 tonnes, its requirement stands at 2,281 tonnes. The state........

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