State needs to produce 52,000 MT fishes per year to be self sufficient: MH Khan
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 28 2018: A farmers' meet and awareness programme on "Scientific Aquaculture Development in Manipur" was held at College of Agriculture, Iroisemba, Imphal today.

ICAR Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Central Agricultural University Imphal, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Manipur Centre Lampheipat and Directorate of Fisheries jointly organised the programme.

Additional Chief Secretary RD&PR, Government of Manipur, MH Khan, Director Department of Fisheries Bidyarani Ayekpam, Dean CAU Imphal Dr JM Laishram, Head FHMD, ICAR CIFA, Bhubaneswar Dr SS Mishra, Head FREM ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Kolkata Dr BP Mohanty, Head FNPD ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar, Dr KN Mohanta and Director Extension Education, CAU Imphal, Professor Ratan Kumar Saha attended the event as presidium members.

Speaking at the event, Additional Chief Secretary, RD&PR/Fisheries, MH Khan said that the State farmers are currently producing around 32,000 metric tonnes of fishes in a year.

The State requires 52,000 metric tonnes of fishes to be self sufficient, he said and informed that the Chief Minister had earlier said that the State is aiming to produce sufficient fishes by 2020."We are short of 40% (fish production).

In order to fill the gap, we need to train the farmers and understand their problems to expedite the best way to move ahead and reach the goal," he said.

Capacity building programmes are must to enhance the production of fishes, he said.

Encouraging the farmers to work hard and improve their understanding of the subject, he urged the departments, experts and officials to interact with the farmers positively.

He also urged the farmers to raise their queries regarding the subject to improve their farming and overall fish production.

He appealed the farmers and general public not to fish during the breeding season of the fishes saying such activities will drastically reduced the fish population.

Well crafted plans are required to enforce such a prohibition that will deter fishing during breeding season, he said acknowledging that such prohibition will be hard -to impose/enforce in the State.

Saying that only nine out of the 16 districts have District Fishery Officers, he said that efforts will be taken up to install the required officers in the remaining districts.

Director, Department of Fisheries, Bidyarani said that Manipur has 56 hectare of water area available for fish farming.

The current rate of fish production -1,500 kg per hectare per year needs to be improved, she said.

"We need to expand the area (water bodies) to produce more fishes, so that the goal of being a self sufficient fish producer by 2020 is achieved," she said.

Meanwhile, a capacity building training programme has been concluded at College of Agriculture, CAU Imphal, jointly organised by Directorate of Extension Education, CAU Imphal and ICAR - ATARI Zone II Meghalaya.

The closing day of the three days capacity building programme on "Soil and Water Management for Enhancing Crop Production" was attended by Director of Instruction CAU Imphal, Dr S Basanta, Dean College of Agriculture, CAU Imphal, Dr JM Laishram, Registrar CAU Imphal, K Mamocha and Director (Extension Education), CAU Imphal, Professor Ratan Kumar Saha.

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