Indigenous fishes in short supply at the State Fish fair
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, October 27 2011:
The State Fish fair organized by the Fishery Department on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba, at Hatta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, today witnessed a scarce supply of Ngaton and Prawn, and many people went away disappointed at not being able to get a taste of these rare indigenous fishes.
After the inauguration of the Fish fair, most of the people who came to the fair thronged the stalls where Pengba and Ngaton were sold.
As the saying goes "Early bird catches the worm", those few buyers who came in early were able to buy Pengba and Ngaton, while many others who came a bit later went back disappointed.
Some of the Pengbas were sold alive in a polythene bag of water, which were on average of smaller sizes.
The inaugural function of the Fish Fair was graced by Md Allaudin Khan, Minister, Fisheries and RK Sukumar, Secretary, Fisheries as the Chief Guest and President respectively.
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K Sarat kumar, Director, Fisheries and Devendra, retired Director, Fisheries, GoM were the Guests of Honour.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Md Allaudin said that with the increase in population the production of local fish needs to be increased.
Since the production of fish in the state is far behind the demand of the state, a large quantity of fish is being imported from other states.
With the advancement in science and technology, scientific methods are also being used in the state by fish farmers.
And gradually the production rate is also increasing.
In the next few years the fish production in the state will hopefully be able to meet all the demands of the state, he said.
He further went on to say that the quantity of fish which is brought in to the state has been reduced to a considerable level due to the ongoing economic blockade on all NHs of the state.
But still, the demand is being met by the local production.
This shows that the production of fish in the state is increasing.
The state is 9 metric tones short of the daily requirements of fish.
To make up the shortage, fish farmers of the state need to use advance technology.
The state, on its part, will also try its level best to solve the problem.
To encourage the fish farmers of the state, the price for this year Fish Crop Competition has been increased, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, K Sarat Kumar, Director Fisheries, said that the Fish Fair has been organized on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba since 1976 to make available fish to the general public at reasonable rates.
There are 65 stalls participating in today's fair.