ICAR State unit scripts success story in Khabak breeding
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Sobhapati Samom
Imphal, April 15 2012:
The scientists at the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) Manipur centre have successfully induced breeding of a kind of Khabak (Bangana dero), an indigenous minor carp in the region, in an extended breeding season.
"We have successfully started to breed Bangana dero in an extended breeding season following our attempt since last year," Fishery scientist Ch Basuda of ICAR, Manipur centre said.
"So now the fish species can breed even in September which is beyond normal breeding season (June-August)", he added.
Endemic to the Manipur, Myanmar and Yunnan provinces of China, Khabak like another endemic medium carp Pengba(Osteobrama belangeri) has almost disappeared from the important water bodies of the state due to various factors.
Hence, intensification of induced breeding and attempt to culture this fish variety which is very popular for its taste and luxurious quality, has been given priority.
Manipur's 7 endemic fishes namely Ngakha Meingangbi (Puntius manipurensis), Ngatup (Schistura Kanjupkhulensis), Ngatup Makhal Ama (Schistura minutes), Ngatup Manba Nga (Schistura reticula), Ching-ngakra (Pterocryptis barakensis),Ching-Ukabi(Badis tuivaiei) and Nung-nga(Psilorhynchus microphthalamus) were among the 15 endangered freshwater fish species listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN)'s Red list of threatened species report on the status and distribution of freshwater biodiversity in eastern Himalaya.
Manipur has more than 200 fish species.
Scientist Basuda feels that the success of their attempt to breed the fish species beyond its normal breeding season could be because of climate change impact on the fisheries and aquaculture.
Even though the climate change can have positive, negative or neutral impacts on organisms, it poses new challenges on sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture and subsequently to the fish eating population of the world.
"Thus, we took up the attempt to breed Bangana dero beyond its normal breeding season," Scientist said, adding, "However; we're targeting to introduce the technique or methodology (to breed with synthetic hormone) to the farmers this summer (June-July)" .
Despite limited manpower, ICAR Manipur centre Scientist Basuda led fishery team has been undergoing various activities including National Initiative on Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) programs in their inadequate mini laboratory.
NICRA, a network project of the ICAR having an objective to enhance resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research and technology demonstration on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries and natural resource management, was launched in February last year.