Manipur scripts success in Sareng breeding
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, June 25 2024:
In a major scientific breakthrough in aquaculture, induced breeding of Wallago attu, locally known as Sareng has been successfully performed in Manipur.
The induced breeding of Sareng, which is considered as a scientific challenge in aquaculture world, was performed by local farmers and officials of the Department of Fisheries.
Chungkham Kopeshwor Singh, a progressive Sareng fish farmer has carried out this rare scientific feat at his fish farm located at Wangoi Makha Leikai in Imphal West district.
He combined indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) and scientific know-how to achieve the feat.
There is no widely practised breeding protocol for Sareng in the world as there is no scientific hatchery techniques for seed production of this fish.
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For induced breeding of Sareng, Chungkham Kopeshwor Singh and his associates, Kulajit Hijam of Sagolbend Tera Tongbram Leikai and Ningthoujam Basanta Singh of Khordak village shared their knowledge of indigenous technical ideas and the State Fisheries Department provided infrastructural support and scientific guidance.
Sareng, earlier abundantly found in fresh water bodies, is a nearly extinct fish species in Manipur which the locals relish due to its extraordinary taste and health benefits.
Notably, on July 10, 2021, Chief Minister N Biren had announced that the State was taking up steps to revive Sareng.
The Department of Fisheries then initiated a pilot project--Sareng Project.
The Department imported Sareng seeds from Bangladesh and Myanmar by surface and air and provided it to local farmers who had keen interest in rearing Sareng.
The first home grown live Sareng fishes were put on display during the State Level Fish Crop Festival held in November, 2021, on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba festival.
With growing interests amongst the fish farmers, the following year witnessed an open sale of 2400 Kg of live Sareng cultured indigenously.
People gathered at the Fish Mela thronged the stalls selling Sareng.
The popularity of the fish then motivated both the farmers and officials of the Department of Fisheries to study and explore scientific ways and means to propagate seeds and breed.
Several attempts at induced breeding were made where a high mortality rate of seed larvae against the survival rate was observed.
Undeterred by the failures, the local fish farmers and the officials of Fisheries continued their research.
After more research and experimentation, they found "light at the end of tunnel" and were able to breed Sareng successfully.