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Shimla, 23 October (Hindustan Reporter). There has been a significant increase in carp fish production in Himachal Pradesh. Production has increased to 7,367.03 metric tons compared to 6,767.11 metric tons last year. Currently about 2,600 fishermen are working in this sector, which is improving their economy.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said in a statement on Wednesday that the state government is providing high quality fish seeds to fishermen and seven government carp fish farms have been established in the state. Improved Amur Carp seeds have been purchased from National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank, Bhubaneswar in May 2024. These are being used to develop brood stocks at Nalagarh in Solan and Gagret Fish Seed Farm in Una. These seeds will give 20 percent more production than traditional varieties, which will increase the income of farmers.
Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu said that an MoU has been signed with the Central Freshwater Livestock Research Institute, Bhubaneswar in June 2024, under which improved seeds of Jayanti Rohu and Amrit Katla species will be made available. The growth rate of these species is 20-25 percent higher than traditional varieties and they also have higher disease resistance.
To provide better training to the farmers, a modern training center has been set up by the Fisheries Department at a cost of Rs 5 crore at Gagret in Una district. Additionally, Carp Fish Brood Bank will also be established in Nalagarh soon.
The Chief Minister said that to promote fish farming, the state government is giving up to 80 percent grant to farmers for the construction of ponds. Till now, Rs 1.38 crore has been released to general categories of farmers for construction of pond in 14 hectare area. Additional amount will also be released soon to farmers belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category. Under this scheme, farmers can make a pond on a maximum of one hectare of land, in which the size of the pond will be minimum 500 square meters.
The Chief Minister said that this scheme is being implemented in eight districts of the state, where Rohu, Katla, Mrigal, Common Carp and Grass Carp are being reared. Fishermen can earn a profit of Rs 10.50 lakh by farming fish in a one hectare pond, while even the smallest unit of 500 square meters can yield a profit of up to Rs 50,000.