'Hollywood of Ukhrul' to make a splash in fish market as well
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Nomita Khongbantabam

Imphal, June 09 2012: Besides the sobriquet, 'Hollywood of Ukhrul', Tongou village in Ukhrul district of Manipur is all set to make a big splash in the local fish market with production of 'organic' fishes.

Thanks to the effort of Ashang Ngalung Tangkhul, a local entrepreneur, who has taken up the onus of fish farming for the first time in the hill areas.

In an exclusive interview with Hueiyen Lanpao, Ashang informed that his aim is not just to produce fishes but also poultry, piggery, vegetables and fruits without using any kind of fertilizers.

Ashang recalled that he started his fish farms at Tongou village along with digging up four large ponds since last year.

One of the ponds is 200 feet wide and 200 feet long while the other three are 7 to 8 feet wide and 200 feet long.

'Hollywood of Ukhrul' to make a splash in fish market as well

More than 10,000 fingerlings have been put in these four ponds and today the fishes weigh around one kilograme each.

No fertilizers have been used for the growth of these fishes taking into special consideration of the harmful impact of chemical fertilizers on the health of the people who would be consuming them.

Ashang contended that on account of colder water in hilly region, fishes produced in the hills are normally tastier and smell much better when roasted.

Fishes produced with or without fertilizer can also be differentiated easily when roasted.

He further informed that people from the hills usually come down to markets in Imphal to buy fishes which are reared with application of fertilizers.

The same is true about in piggery and poultry.

In this manner, fishes are made to grow and weigh upto 2-3 kilos in a month and 5-6 kilos for pigs and poultry.

However, consumption of such fertilizers laced products are harmful to health of the people and the problem is all the more serious for people in the hill areas where there is not even proper health care facilities for timely treatment.

Other than fish farming, organic farming of piggery and poultry and cultivation of vegetables and fruits are underway in Tongou village.

Oranges, Lemons, cluster beans and U-moroks have been planted around the fish ponds, Ashang disclosed, adding that so far he has spent Rs 10 lakhs including some amount he had borrowed from friends and relatives without seeking any assistance from the govt.Ashang also conveyed his desire to acquire a shop at Imphal for marketing his farm products.