Induced breeding achieved in Sareng project
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, June 25 2024:
A significant breakthrough, perceived as a scientific challenge in aquaculture world, has been achieved in fisheries sector in Manipur.
Induced breeding of Sareng (Wallago attu) has been successfully performed with indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) combined with scientific knowledge by the local fish farmers in association with officials of the department of fisheries.
There is no widely practiced breeding protocol of Wallago attu locally known as Sareng in the world as no scientific hatchery techniques adopted for spawn production of Sareng has been in vogue.
Chungkham Kopeshwor Singh, a progressive Sareng fish farmer, has been able to carry out this rare scientific feat at his fish farm located at Wangoi Makha Leikai in Imphal West district.
He along with his associates namely Kulajit Hijam of Sagolband Tera Tongbram Leikai and Ningthoujam Basanta Singh of Khordak village shared their knowledge of indigenous technical ideas in addition to the infrastructural support and scientific guidance provided by the fisheries department.
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.