Fish Farmers' Day
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 10 2015 :
Directorate of Fisheries celebrated the 15th Fish Farmers' Day at its Lamphelpat premises today.
Commissioner (Fisheries) Norbert Disinang and Director of Fisheries Kh Memcha graced the function as chief guest and president respectively.
Prizes for last year's fish fair cum fish crop competition held at Mapal Kangjeibung were distributed at the function.
Ningthoujam Kumar of Thanga Chingmei, who produced 15,640 kgs of fish, was adjudged first position while Salam Dhaballo of Nongmaikhong, who produced 6000 kgs, bagged second position.
Kh Binoykumar of Mayang Imphal, who produced 4900 kgs of fish, got third prize.
Cash prizes of Rs 60,000, Rs 40,000 and Rs 30,000 were given to first, second and third prize winners respectively.
Khangenbam Tiken of Kumbi, who produced 2875 kgs of indigenous fish at the fair, was also rewarded with a cash prize of Rs 15,000 .
Speaking at the function, Nobert Disinang said that although the State has an area of 53,861 hectares where fish farming could be practised.
However, only 19,700 hactares are being used for fish farming, he said.
As the State is unable to meet the annual fish demand of 40,000 metric tonnes, 9500 metric tonnes of fish are imported from other States every year to make up this deficit, he said.
As such, fish farmers still need to work hard using modern equipments while the Government must on the other hand increase the prize money to encourage them, he said.
Fisheries Additional Director David K Shimray said that fish farmers must attend the training programmes organised by the Directorate from time to time.