Fish farms to developed in 4000 ha of land
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 10 2011:
The Secretary, Fisheries RK Sukumar today said that the Directorate will be developing fish farms in more than 4000 hectares of land area in the state.
Speaking in the 11th Fishermen's Day at the office premises of the Directorate of Fisheries, RK Sukumar said that Manipur has total land areas of 56.475 thousand hectares under water.
Out of these, only 18,000 hectares are used in fish farming.
He said that the directorate had requested to the NEC to grant sanction to develop fish farms in 560 hectares of land.
Fish farms in the state used to produce only 900 kg of fish products per hectare in a year in the past years.
However with the introduction of new techniques, the figure has shoot up to 2000 kg in last year.
Director K Saratkumar said that state needs around 30 metric ton of fish production to meet the needs of its people according to the new census report.
However fish farms in the state produced only 20.200 metric ton in last year.
In order to meet the needs of the people additional fish products of 8 metric ton was imported from other states last year.
However with the new plans and policy, the directorate is planning to produce surplus amount of fish products in the coming years by developing many fish farms and introducing new techniques.
Fisheries minister Md Alauddin Khan who graced the function as chief guest said that the fish farmers will produce surplus amount of fish products only when their demands are met in time.
On the other hand the directorate is also taking up many initiatives to increase the fish production.
Fish farmers who have won the first, second and third positions in the Fish Fair held in relation with the Ningol Chakkouba festival last year were also honoured with special incentives.