State witnesses string of successes in 'Sareng' breeding
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, July 06 2024: After the first breakthrough in induced breeding of 'Sareng' by a team of 'Sareng' growers led by Chungkham Kopeshwor Singh of Wangoi Makha Leikai, string of successes of induced breeding of 'Meetei Sareng' (Wallago attu) have been reported in the state.

Laimujam Dinamani Singh of Tentha Mayai Leikai in Thoubal district achieved a milestone in 'Sareng' breeding on July 4 when he successfully hatched 'Sareng' seeds in consultation with the fisheries experts of Fisheries Department.

Similar feat was also achieved on Saturday by Ningthoujam Basanta Singh of Khordak Ichin, Bishnupur district.

N Basanta assisted Kopeshwor in the historic breakthrough of breeding of 'Meetei Sareng' in the last week of June this year.

In less than a fort night, three 'Sareng' farmers have been able to achieve the aquaculture milestones in an unprecedented manner.

Local fish farmers adopted Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) mixed with scientific knowledge facilitated by officials of Department of Fisheries while performing the breeding.

There is no widely practiced breeding protocol of Wallago attu, locally known as 'Sareng,' as no specific scientific hatchery techniques has been prescribed or developed by the aquaculture experts in the world so far.

Expressing happiness over the success of Sareng Project, Fisheries director Meisnam Balkrisna Singh said that the success of induced breeding by the fish farmers of Manipur is a significant milestone in fisheries world.

He informed that the Department of Fisheries will soon develop a Standardised Breeding Protocol and initiate Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

Further, he announced that the successful 'Sareng' breeders would be honoured befittingly on the occasion of celebrating th National Fish Farmers' Day at the state level on July 10 in recognition of their consistent efforts and hard works.

Mention may be made that Chief Minister N Biren had announced revival of Sareng, an extinct fish species that thrived in abundance in fresh water bodies of Manipur and relished by the local populace due to its extraordinary taste and health benefits, during the celebration of State Level National Fish Farmers' Day on July 10, 2021.Subsequently, the department took up the initiative of chief minister as a pilot project under the banner Sareng Project and started rearing and popularising the fish through pond culture practices.

Initially, the most painstaking task of importing Sareng spawns from Bangladesh and Myanmar by surface and air was arranged by the fisheries department to facilitate the local fish farmers who had expressed keen interest of rearing Sareng.

The first display of home grown live Sareng fish was made during the State Level Fish Crop Festival 2021 held in November, 2021 on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba festival.

With growing interests amongst the fish farmers, the following year witnessed open sale of 2400 kilos of live Sareng cultured indigenously.

Overjoyed on the revival of Meetei Sareng, people gathered at the site of the Fish Mela and commotion ensued while making an attempt to grab the fish despite the hefty price.

The popularity and fascination spellbound by the local Sareng motivated both the farmers and officials of the department to study and explore scientific ways and means to propagate seeds as affordability of imported spawns was at stake.

Driven by the public demand for more Sareng, several attempts of induced breeding have been made by the stake holders, however, outnumber of mortality of seed larvae against the survival rate has been observed in the attempts.

Undeterred by the successive failures, local fish farmers and fishery officials continued their endeavour of induced breeding with their accumulated knowledge and experiences and until finally, there is dawn of light at the end of tunnel.

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