Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02:
The Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition, 2005 organised by the State Department of Fisheries in connection with the Ningol Chakkouba festival was inaugurated today at the mela ground of Mapal Kangjeibung here.
Fisheries Minister N Mangi and MLA Th Tomba inaugurated the fair as chief guest and president respectively.
In all 44 stalls set up by owners of fish farms from different parts of Manipur are taking part in the fair.
A variety of fish like Rohu, Catla, Mrigal are being sold at Rs 80 per kg and Grass Carp at Rs 65 per kg, Silver Carp at Rs 50 per kg, Common Carp at Rs 70 per kg and Kuri at Rs 70 per kg.
In his address as chief guest, Mangi encouraged the fish farmers who are taking part in the fair and said that many welfare programmes for the fish farmers are being taken up.
He asserted that Fisheries Department has provided necessary infrastructures to owners of around 30 hectares of paddy fields which have been submerged by the Loktak Project for setting up fish farms.
Most of the projects being taken up by the Department are sponsored by the Central Government.
But from the next fiscal year, th State Government would be releasing fund to the department for taking up many projects for the fish farmers in the State in a big way, he said.
Fish being one of the important food items of the Manipuri people, it would be profitable to take to fish rearing activities, he maintained.
Out of 25,000 metric tonne of fish required for consumption in a year, only 17,800 metric tonne are being produced in the State and the remaining 7,200 metric tonnes are being imported from outside the State, he added.
In his presidential address, Tomba opined that fish fair should be held for Cheiraoba festival as well.