What is a fish feed project report?
A fish feed project report is a detailed project report (DPR) for a mill that turns soybean meal, oil cakes and fish meal into floating or sinking fish pellets. It sets out the process, extruder line, raw materials, buyers, project cost, means of finance, five-year projections, DSCR and break-even a lender needs.
Promoters use it to size the mill and apply for a term loan, PMEGP or PMMSY support; bankers use it to judge whether feed sales can repay the loan.
Also known as: aqua feed project report, project report on fish feed, floating fish feed plant DPR, fish feed business plan.
Fish feed manufacturing plant cost in India
The biggest cost decision is whether you make sinking pellets on a pellet mill or floating feed on an extruder with a dryer and boiler. Extrusion costs more but is what most carp and pangasius farmers now ask for. The middle tier is the mill modelled in our sample report; the other two are indicative ranges.
Small unit
₹40–90 lakh
About 1–3 MT per day, pellet mill or single screw extruder
- Machinery₹20–45 lakh
- Shed and fit-out (or rent)₹10–25 lakh
- Working capital margin₹5–12 lakh
Fits PMEGP or the PMMSY mini feed mill, subject to limits
Medium mill
₹377.64 lakh
10 MT per day, 3,000 MT per year
- Plant and machinery₹192.27 lakh
- Land and building₹119.36 lakh
- Working capital margin₹22.48 lakh
Term loan ₹283.23 lakh (75%), promoter ₹94.41 lakh
Large mill
₹6–10 crore
About 20–30 MT per day, twin screw extrusion
- Machinery₹3.5–5.5 crore
- Land and building₹1.5–3 crore
- Working capital margin₹40–80 lakh
MSME term loan; PMMSY large feed mill where eligible
Small and large ranges are indicative. Costs vary with extruder make, dryer size, land rates and how much storage you build.
Fish feed plant economics in our sample report
The sample models a 10 MT per day extruded feed mill running 300 days a year, starting at 60% of capacity and reaching 80% in Year 5. Feed is sold ex-factory at ₹39,700 per MT, and raw materials take 67.6% of sales.
Lenders look hardest at the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR), the cash available to pay the loan divided by the instalments due. In the sample it is lowest in Year 2, at 1.41, the first full year of principal repayment.
| Land and site development | 31.11 |
|---|---|
| Building and civil works | 88.25 |
| Plant and machinery | 192.27 |
| Other fixed assets | 20.84 |
| Contingencies | 14.03 |
| Preliminary and pre-operative | 8.66 |
| Working capital margin | 22.48 |
| Total | 377.64 |
| Promoter's contribution (25%) | 94.41 |
|---|---|
| Term loan from bank (75%) | 283.23 |
| Cash credit limit (separate) | 67.45 |
| Total project cost | 377.64 |
Term loan at 10.5% with a 6-month moratorium and 54 monthly instalments. All figures are illustrative.
Fish feed manufacturing process for floating pellets
Floating feed is cooked, not just pressed. The extruder's heat and pressure gelatinise the starch so pellets puff up, hold together in water and stay on the surface where the farmer can watch the fish eat.
- Ingredient checking
Each lot of meal, bran, oil cake and fish meal is tested for moisture, protein and aflatoxin before it goes into storage.
- Grinding
A hammer mill grinds the mix to pass a 0.8 to 1 mm screen; coarse grinding gives rough pellets that break in water.
- Batching and mixing
Ingredients and premix are weighed to the formula for the species and growth stage, then blended in a paddle mixer.
- Conditioning and extrusion
Steam raises the mash to about 90 to 95 °C, and the extruder cooks it under pressure through a die that sets pellet size.
- Drying and cooling
A belt dryer takes moisture below 10%, and a cooler brings pellets close to room temperature so they do not sweat in the bag.
- Oil coating
Fish oil or vegetable oil is sprayed on to raise energy content and improve taste.
- Sieving and bagging
Fines are screened out and returned to the line, and pellets are packed in labelled 25 to 40 kg bags.
Raw materials for fish feed
Protein is the expensive part of the formula. De-oiled soybean meal is the largest item in our sample, followed by fish meal. Nursery feeds need more protein than grower feeds, so the formula, and its cost, shifts with the stage you sell. Groundnut cake must be checked for aflatoxin before use.
| Raw material | Share of cost | Year 3 (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| De-oiled soybean meal | 35% | 197.27 |
| Fish meal | 15% | 84.54 |
| Maize and broken rice | 14% | 78.91 |
| De-oiled rice bran | 13% | 73.27 |
| Groundnut and mustard oil cake | 12% | 67.64 |
| Fish oil, vitamin and mineral premix | 11% | 62.00 |
| Total | 100% | 563.63 |
Year 3 at 70% capacity. Shares are the sample's assumptions; your formula sets your own mix.
Fish feed machinery and extruder line cost
The steam conditioner and twin screw extruder are the heart of the line and take 36% of the machinery budget in our sample. The dryer and boiler come next, and both are often under-sized in first quotations.
| Machine | What it does | Sample cost (₹ lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Hammer mill with cyclone | Grinds ingredients to a fine mash | 15.38 |
| Weigh batching and paddle mixer | Weighs the formula and blends it evenly | 17.31 |
| Steam conditioner and twin screw extruder | Cooks the mash and forms floating pellets | 69.22 |
| Multi-layer belt dryer | Brings pellet moisture down | 26.92 |
| Cooler and vibratory sifter | Cools pellets and removes fines | 13.46 |
| Oil coater | Sprays oil on finished pellets | 9.61 |
| Steam boiler | Supplies steam to the conditioner | 15.38 |
| Elevators, conveyors and bins | Move and store material between stages | 15.38 |
| Bagging and stitching machine | Weighs and closes feed bags | 9.61 |
| Total plant and machinery | 192.27 | |
Costs are the sample report's estimates for a 10 MT per day line. Get current quotations before you finalise.
Who buys fish feed and how a new mill competes
Demand comes from pond farmers moving from home-made mash of rice bran and oil cake to factory pellets. Carp and pangasius clusters in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh lead this shift. Farmers judge a feed by how much fish it grows per bag and how long it holds in water.
Most feed reaches farmers through dealers and aqua shops that extend credit through the culture cycle, so a mill's sales network matters as much as its formula.
- Carp and pangasius pond farmers
- Fish feed dealers and aqua shops
- Tilapia cage and reservoir operators
- Biofloc and RAS (recirculating aquaculture) farms
- Fish seed hatcheries and nurseries
- Fish farmer producer organisations and state fisheries programmes
Where a regional mill wins: feed is bulky and low in value per tonne, so freight from distant plants adds up. A mill inside a farming cluster can deliver faster, offer smaller pellet sizes for local species and give dealers better service than a far-off brand.
Licences, standards and GST for a fish feed unit
Beyond the basic registrations, four things shape a fish feed unit: pollution consent, the BIS feed standard buyers and departments refer to, packaging law and the nil GST rate on feed.
| Business registration | Udyam (MSME) registration and GST registration |
|---|---|
| Pollution board consent | "Fish feed, poultry feed and cattle feed" is in the CPCB Orange category (2020 list); consent to establish and operate comes from the State Pollution Control Board |
| Product standard | IS 16150 Fish feed specification, in parts for carp, catfish, marine shrimp, freshwater prawn and pangasius feed (Part 1 and Part 5 revised in 2023) |
| Quality limits | For pangasius feed, IS 16150 Part 5 sets moisture at 12% maximum, crude protein of 20–30% by stage, aflatoxin B1 at 0.02 mg/kg maximum and no antibiotics |
| Packing and labelling | Legal Metrology declarations on each bag, plus the nutrient, batch and best-before details the BIS standard lists |
| GST | Prepared aquatic feed is nil-rated (CBIC Circular 80/54/2018-GST); fish meal as an input attracts 5% |
Rules checked in October 2026. Requirements vary by state; confirm with the pollution board and your tax adviser.
Loans and subsidy for a fish feed mill
PMMSY feed mills
Unit cost ₹30 lakh (2 t/day), ₹100 lakh (8 t/day), ₹200 lakh (20 t/day)Assistance of 40% of project cost for general and 60% for SC and women beneficiaries, through the state fisheries department.
PMEGP
Manufacturing projects up to ₹50 lakhMargin-money subsidy of 15–35% for new units. Suits a small pellet or single-extruder unit.
MSME term loan
Medium and large millsOur sample uses 75% bank debt with a separate cash credit limit for raw material stock and dealer credit.
PMMSY figures are from the Haryana fisheries department's scheme pages (Oct 2026). Scheme windows and limits change; check with your state department or bank before applying.
Mistakes that weaken a fish feed project report
- Planning floating feed on a pellet mill
A ring-die pellet mill makes sinking pellets. If the market wants floating feed, the report must cost an extruder, dryer and boiler.
- Counting GST input credit
Because fish feed is nil-rated, GST on fish meal, bags and machinery is usually a cost. Reports that net it off overstate profit.
- Using dealer selling prices as revenue
The mill sells at ex-factory rates after dealer margins and schemes. Bag prices quoted to farmers make DSCR look better than it is.
- Too little working capital for dealer credit
In our sample, money owed by dealers is the largest current asset, ahead of raw material stock. A small cash credit limit leaves the mill short in its first season.
- No aflatoxin testing budget
Oil cakes and maize can carry aflatoxin. One bad batch can cost a dealer network, so the report should include a small lab and routine tests.
How NPCS helps you set up a fish feed mill
- Capacity and product rangeDecide floating or sinking feed, pellet sizes and species to match your local farms.
- Extruder line and suppliersCompare extruder, dryer and boiler options and collect quotations.
- Bank and subsidy reportProjections, DSCR and working capital in the format your bank or the fisheries department asks for.
- Approvals and layoutPlant layout, power and steam load, storage, and the approvals list for your state.
NPCS's client list includes 3 fish feed assignments among 12 in animal, poultry and aqua feed. The NPCS project team, led by founder Ajay Kumar Gupta, has prepared project reports for entrepreneurs, banks and companies since 1994.
What's inside the fish feed sample report
- Introduction
- Uses and applications
- Market potential
- Manufacturing process
- Raw materials
- Plant and machinery
- Land, building and utilities
- Manpower
- Licences and approvals
- Project cost and means of finance
- Working capital
- Projected profitability
- Cash flow statement
- Projected balance sheet
- Depreciation
- Term loan repayment
- Debt service coverage
- Break-even analysis
- Financial ratios
- Key assumptions
- Conclusion
- Monthly loan repayment schedule
19 pages, five-year projections, illustrative figures.
Open sample reportFree sample or a report for your project?
| What you get | Free sample | NPCS report for your project |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity and location | Typical unit | Your capacity, site and state |
| Figures | Illustrative | Built on current prices and quotations |
| Machinery suppliers and quotations | No | Yes |
| Market survey for your region | No | Yes |
| Bank or scheme format (PMEGP, term loan) | No | Yes |
| Use for a loan application | No | Yes |
Real NPCS fish feed project reports
These are fish feed project reports NPCS has prepared, with the plant capacity, total capital investment, rate of return and break-even worked out in each. Costs have moved since some were written, so we bring any of them up to date for your capacity and location.
| Project report | Plant capacity | Total investment | Rate of return | Break-even | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Growing Demand of Animal Feed (Cattle, Poultry Broiler, Pig & Fish Feed) | Cattle Feed 33.6 MT per day Poultry Broiler Feed 16.8 MT per day Fish Feed 2.8 MT per day Pig Feed 2.8 MT per day | ₹14.9 lakh | 24% | 48% | Get this report |
| Fish and Prawn Feed | Fish Feed: 30 MT/Day Prawn Feed: 30 MT/Day | ₹3.9 crore | 28% | 60% | Get this report |
| Aqua Fish Feed | Fish Feed: 60 MT / Day Prawn Feed: 60 MT / Day | ₹17.02 crore | 27% | 55% | Get this report |
| Fish Feed | Fish Feed: 100 MT / Day | ₹22.73 crore | 27% | 41% | Get this report |
Figures as worked out in each NPCS report. Total investment includes plant and machinery, land and building, and working capital.
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Fish Feed project report: frequently asked questions
What is the fish feed manufacturing plant cost in India?
A small pellet or single-screw extruder unit of 1–3 MT per day needs roughly ₹40–90 lakh. A 20–30 MT per day extruded feed mill needs about ₹6–10 crore, including land, building and working capital margin. Our sample report models a 10 MT per day mill at ₹377.64 lakh. These ranges are indicative; your own report costs the capacity and site you choose.
What raw materials are used to make fish feed?
De-oiled soybean meal is the main protein source. It is supported by fish meal, groundnut and mustard oil cake, de-oiled rice bran, maize or broken rice for starch, and fish oil with a vitamin and mineral premix. In our sample report soybean meal is 35% of raw material cost and fish meal 15%. The formula changes with the fish species and growth stage.
Which machine is used to make floating fish feed?
Floating feed needs an extruder. Steam-conditioned mash is cooked under pressure in a single or twin screw extruder so the pellets expand and float, then a belt dryer and cooler set the moisture. A ring-die pellet mill makes sinking pellets and is cheaper, but it cannot give the expansion that floating feed needs.
Is fish feed manufacturing profitable?
In our illustrative sample, a 10 MT per day mill earns a net profit of ₹67 lakh on sales of ₹834 lakh in Year 3. Break-even is at about 40% of capacity and payback takes about 4 years. Actual margins depend on soybean meal and fish meal prices, dealer credit, and how well the mill sells through the off-season.
What subsidy is available for a fish feed mill?
PMMSY lists fish feed mills with unit costs of ₹30 lakh for 2 tonnes per day, ₹100 lakh for 8 tonnes and ₹200 lakh for 20 tonnes. The Haryana fisheries department shows assistance of 40% for general and 60% for SC and women beneficiaries. PMEGP covers manufacturing projects up to ₹50 lakh. Confirm that applications are open in your state.
What is the GST rate on fish feed?
Prepared aquatic feed, including shrimp and prawn feed, is nil-rated under GST, as clarified by CBIC Circular 80/54/2018-GST. Fish meal bought as a raw material is taxed at 5%. Because the feed is nil-rated, input tax on raw materials, packing and machinery usually cannot be recovered, so a project report should count it as a cost.
Is the fish feed project report PDF free, and can I use it for a loan?
The sample is free to view and download. It is an illustrative report that shows the format and depth of an NPCS report. Its figures are representative and not based on a real project, so it should not be submitted to a bank. For a loan or PMMSY application, NPCS prepares a report for your own capacity, location and scheme.
Sources and references
- PMMSY: Mini fish feed mill (2 tons per day)Department of Fisheries, Government of Haryana, checked Oct 2026
- PMMSY: Medium fish feed mill (8 tons per day)Department of Fisheries, Government of Haryana, checked Oct 2026
- PMMSY: Large fish feed mill (20 tons per day)Department of Fisheries, Government of Haryana, checked Oct 2026
- Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)Bank of India, checked Oct 2026
- Circular No. 80/54/2018-GST: clarification on GST rates and classificationGST Council, Government of India, checked Oct 2026
- IS 16150 (Part 1): 2023 Fish feed, Specification, Part 1 Carp feedBureau of Indian Standards, checked Oct 2026
- IS 16150 (Part 5): 2023 Fish feed, Specification, Part 5 Pangasius feedBureau of Indian Standards, checked Oct 2026
- CPCB revised Orange category of industries list (2020)Puducherry Pollution Control Committee, checked Oct 2026
The NPCS project team, led by Ajay Kumar Gupta
This page and its sample report are prepared and reviewed by the NPCS project team, which has written techno-economic feasibility studies and detailed project reports since 1994.
Ajay Kumar Gupta founded Niir Project Consultancy Services (NPCS) and leads the organisation. With 40 years of experience in MSME project consulting, he has built the team that has delivered more than 28,000 project reports for clients worldwide, helping entrepreneurs plan and finance profitable manufacturing businesses.
- Published
- Last updated
- Next review
- Oct 2027
- Reviewed by
- NPCS project team
This page is reviewed every 12 months, or sooner when scheme limits, GST rates, BIS rules or pollution categories change. The sample report is illustrative: its figures are generated from industry-typical ratios for a unit of this size, checked so every statement balances, and are not taken from any client project.