'Prices of local fish inflated by Fisheries Department during Ningol Chakkouba'
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN
Imphal, October 28 2014:
Different local fish this year were allowed to sale at higher prices during the Ningol Chakkouba fish fair by the Fisheries Department which led to the sharp decline of number of indigenous fish buyers who had chosen fish from outside the state, the All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen's Union Manipur (ALLAFUM) has alleged on Tuesday.
ALLAFUM in a release further expressed concern over the lowest fish production rate of only 75 metric ton this year compared to previous years.
It said Manipur requires nearly 48,000 metric tons of fish annually, and that nearly 20,000 tons of local fish were produced in the state this year.
The union alleged that the Fisheries Department sold local fish at higher prices during the fish mela organised by the Department in connection with the just concluded Ningol Chakkouba festival and so many of the buyers preferred fish from other states to indigenous fish.
It said Manipur has to purchase about 28,000 metric tons of fish from other states yearly affecting the economy and posing a threat to the food security of the people.
In order to improve food security of the state, the union further urged the Manipur Government to restore the state's riverine system and to develop natural fish production methods in lakes, rivers and ponds.
It also demanded the Government to effectively implement the hatchery pools and to distribute fish seeds to the professional fishermen with special attention to them so that they can boost fish production at different levels.