Suman Kumar Sahu
Integrated fishery management practices related to proper resource utilization, species diversification with endangered indigenous fishes and new fish species introduction i.e. Amur Common Carp, Pengba, Milk fish, GIFT Tilapia, Pearl spot and Conservation of indigenous endangered fishes i.e. Pabda, Magur, Singi, Koi, Tengra rearing are successfully done by the fish farmers.
Various activities undertaken by fish farmers in Haldia
i) A new concept of fish farming i.e. Fishery Family Farming as a cluster Fish farmers of Haldia are doing farming involving all family members. Block fishery department of Haldia has also set up a family farming farm school. The main objective of this school is to provide training to both husband and wife of the family.
ii) Diversification of fish culture
Farmers not only cultured highest produced variety of Indian major carp (IMC) but also farmed several endangered fish species. Successful culture of new species included AMUR CARP, PENGBA, JAYANTI ROHU, GIFT TILAPIA, MILK FISH, PEARL SPOT. Successful commercial culture of endangered species added MAGUR, SINGI, PABDA, and TENGRA.
iii) Fish Tourism
Fishery scientists, college students, nearby areas fish farmers and fish lovers are coming to Haldia to visit different fish farms. They find interesting activities in fish farms.
iv) “Organic Juice”- a new concept of organic farming
Fish farmers of this region are using organic manure to grow fish. They are also using “Organic Juice” for producing quality fish.
v) Award winning fish farmers
Fish farmers including women fish farmers have received awards and recognitions from State Government as well as different ICAR institutes for their best practices. Some of the awards and awardees are mentioned below.
“Meen Mitra” – Two fish farmers namely 1) Smt Arati Barman 2) Shri Narayan Barman received prestigious Best Fish Farmers Award from the State Government.
“Kristi Krishak in Fish Farming”- Shri Mrinmoy Samanta got recognition as Best Fish Farmer of State
‘Best Fish farmer Award’ was conferred to Shri Sudip Bikash Khatua by ICAR- CIFRI, Barackpore
Best Fish Farmer award by ICAR – CIFA, Bhubaneswar was conferred to 1) Shri Arup Mantri 2) Shri Sarat Chandra Bhowmik 3) Shri Krishna Prasad Samanta
vi) Cluster Fish Farming
Successful Amur Fish farming was done in a cluster in Haldia by Krishna Prasad Samanta ( 2ha ), Sudip Bikash Khatua ( 3 ha) , Mrinmoy Samanta ( 3ha ) , Panchanan Mantri & Arup Mantri ( 6ha) , Dhrubojyoti Mandol ( 2ha) , Tapan Barman ( 3ha ), Sarat Chandra Bhowmik ( 8ha) , Shambhunath Dinda ( 3ha) , Somen Sasmal ( 2ha), Smt Arati Barman (4ha) and many others small scale fishery.
The ideas behind cluster farming is to achieve economies of scale by producing more and finding a market to sale.
vii) Brackish water fish farming
Commercially farming of Vennamei shrimp as well as Milk Fish, Mullets etc. are being frmed here in Haldia region. Apart from using modern method of shrimp farming, several farmers are using RAS technology for Vennamei farming.
viii) Significant participation of women
Significant number of women participate in various fishery activities. Starting from conducting training programmes to participating in Farm School to produce value added products and aquarium making, women are actively engaged.
(The author is the Fishery Extension Officer, Fisheries Department, Haldia)