Fish farmers see hope in Biofloc fish farming
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 12 2020: Biofloc fish farming technique which is gaining popularity across the world, has now drawn admiration of State's people as well and this profitable method of fish farming is expected to boost State's fish production and economy in years.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Tokpam Jinesh from Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai said that he rears fishes at a farm at Kodompokpi and started adopting this new and innovative method of fish farming in July under the supervision of Paonam Sunder of Lairikyengbam Leikai who is well acquainted with the scientific aquaculture.

With Sunder's help, he prepared two biofloc tanks (where fishes are reared) at Kodompokpi Mamang Leikai in July and kicked off his new venture in August, he said.

Around 3000 fingerlings of Ukabi (climbing perch in English) and nearly 4,000 fingerlings of Tunghanbi (Tilapia in English) have been cultured in the bioflocs, he said.

Each fingerling of Ukabi and Tunghanbi were bought respectively at Rs 2.5 and Rs 3 and they have now grown well in these two months, said Jinesh who is expecting a good yield in his first harvest this December.

Saying that Ukabi will be sold at Rs 400-500 per kg and Tunghanbi at Rs 250 per kg, Jinesh continued that he is also eager to add another tank to expand his business.

Going into detail of what biofloc is, Jinesh said that he rears fishes in circular concrete tanks which have a diameter of 4 m (common size) and height of 4.5 feet.

The tank is layered with a plastic sheet inside and a pipe for feeding and drawing water is used above another pipe to feed oxygen.

The tank can hold 10,000 litre of water and only 8,000 litre of fresh water is used for rearing the fish.

The water is treated with around 10 kg of limestone and 200 to 300 gram of molasses and kept for around 10 to 15 days before fingerlings are released into the bioflocs.

The treatment stimulates the growth of heterotrophic bacteria which will reduce ammonia and nitrates produced by fish feeding.

This bacteria will consume the ammonia and convert it into a protein which can be consumed by fishes again, thereby saving costs of feed.

All feeds are organic and vary according to the size of the fishes, he continued.

It may be noted that the Chief Minister recently inspected a biofloc fish farm run by Longjam Boss at Wangoi Thounaojam Leikai and encouraged the farmers to undertake such a beneficial method of fish farming.

Maibam Tomthin of Laipham Khunou is another person who is adopting the practise by setting up 4 bioflocs and rearing common carp fish.

Chairman of the Organic Man Agri Solutions, Thongram Prem, on the other hand, stated that the firm has trained around 40 fish farmers for biofloc fish farming.

This method of fish farming is very useful and one can earn a lot from even a small piece of land, he continued.

The farming, though it sounds alluring, is not easy as one has to have good knowledge of controlling the parameters involved in this fish farming method.

Ammonia and nitrate level from unused feed, oxygen supply and temperature are to be maintained well during this farming, he continued.

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