Decks cleared for Fish Fair
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 25 2022:
Ahead of the Ningol Chakkouba festival which falls on October 27, the State Fisheries Department is holding "Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition, 2022" at Hapta Kangjeibung, Konung Mamang tomorrow.
The Department of Fisheries is aiming to display and sell one lakh kilograms of fishes in the fair.
Notably, the Department holds the fair yearly a day before Ningol Chakkouba.
Speaking to media persons at his office at Secretariat North Block, Babupara, Fisheries Minister Heikham Dingo said the fair this year will be the 44th edition.
The fish fair is held every year to promote State farmers and provide fishes at discounted prices to the people to complete the Ningol Chakkouba festival.
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The fish fair will host around 200 farmers from 16 districts and it will house 115 stalls selling fishes.
Construction of the stalls have been completed, he said.
Besides the common fishes available like Rohu/Rou, Catla etc, the fair will also sell other varieties of fishes including "Shareng", "Ngaton", "Khabak" and "Ukabi" .
For the convenience of the farmers, they will be exempted from paying transportation charges.
Fisheries Director H Balkrishna who was also present said the farmer who produces the most kilograms of fishes in the fair will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
2nd and 3rd best producers will get Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
In addition, there will also be 20 consolation prizes.
Farmer who produces most fishes in the indigenous (fish) category will get Rs 20,000 cash prize.
Also, the Fisheries Officer of the district which produces most fishes will be appreciated with incentives, he added.
The previous fish fair in 2021 had displayed a total of 1.25 lakh kilograms of fishes well beyond the targeted volume of 90,000 kilograms.
While the target this year is to display and sell 1 lakh kilograms of fishes, the actual volume of the fishes at the fair is expected to surpass this figure, said Balkrishna.
According to a survey conducted in 2019, the State's needed quantity for consumption was 52,000 MT while the State's fish production stood at 32,000 MT.
Even though there has not been any further survey, it was expected that post COVID-19 lockdowns the State production could reach 40,000 MT.
To make the fair "buyer friendly", the Government has fixed the prices of the fishes according to their variety and sizes, he said.
Prices of fishes
Catla : below 2 kg - Rs 210, 2 kg and above - Rs 270, 5 kg and above - Rs 350.
Rou : below 1 kg - Rs 220, 1 kg and above-Rs 280, 2 kg and above - Rs 350.
Mrigal : below 1 kg - Rs 220, 1 kg and above- Rs 280, 2 kg and above - Rs 350.
Common Carp : below 1 kg - Rs 200, 1 kg and above- Rs 250, 2 kg and above - Rs 280.
Grass carp : below 2 kg - Rs 230, 2 kg and above- Rs 280, 3 kg and above - Rs 310, 5 kg and above - Rs 350.
Silver carp : below 3 kg - Rs 180, 3 kg and above - Rs 200.
Pengba/Khabak : below 300 gram - Rs 450, above 300 gram - Rs 550.
Ngaton : Rs 450 per kg.
Ngahei : 1 kg above Rs 220, 3 kg above - Rs 300.
Ukabi (Anabas) : Rs 350 per kg.
Porom (Murrel) : Rs 300 per kg.
Tunghanbi (Tilapia) : Rs 150 per kg.
Further, the Fisheries Director said around 3,000 kilograms of Shareng will be sold in the fair.
It may be sold at Rs 1,200 per kg, he said.