IMPHAL, June 3: The directorate of state fishery is targeting to produce at least 60,000 metric tons of fish during the Ningol Chakouba festival late this year.
Normal production of fish in the state is a mere 19,200 metric tons of fish per year while the state requirement of fish is about 27,500 matric tons annually with the defecit requirement being imported from outside the state.
This was disclosed by director of state directorate of fishery K Saratkumar, while speaking to mediaperson ahead of the distribution function for Fish Feed and Agri Lime to beneficiaries.
The distribution of Fish feed in the state will be the first ever in the state.
He further stated that the department has decided to distribute fish feeds to its beneficiaries as the fish feed has high calorie content and helps develop reared fish in a quick period.
He also said altogether 975 beneficiaries will avail Agri Lime while another 487 beneficiary will avail Fish Feed during the current year.
Each beneficiary in the valley will get 100 kg of Fish Feed while every beneficiary in the hill districts will get 50 kg, he further briefed the mediapersons.
In case of Agri Lime, every valley beneficiary will get 50 kg while 20kg each will be given to beneficiaries of the hill districts.
He further maintained that fish feed will be distributed to altogether 130 beneficiaries from different scattered areas as of today and added that distribution for the remaining beneficiaries will be organized later possibly in groups at various places like Mayang Imphal and Uchiwa in Imphal West.
The state directorate of Fishery has been implementing RKVY scheme as a nodal agency in the state and every benefits under the scheme would be provided to the fishermen, he added.
A training cum production centre opened under the state directorate of fishery have produced Fibre boats and 12 such plastic boats will be distributed to fishermen today during the distribution function, he maintained.
He also said that the life span of such fibre Boats is about 25 years and hence it will help the fishermen of the state tremendously as the traditional wooden boat could be used only for four or five years at the maximum.
In order to increase fish production in the state, the state directorate of fishery have begun taking up Farm Development Project under which defunct fish farms would be developed and revived.
As part of this project, action has been taken up already to develop fish farms at Purul in Senapati district and Khambathel at Chandel district.
He also maintained that Patchao at Jiribam will also be developed under the project.
In order to meet the fish requirements of Ukhrul district, ponds located at Shirui hill range will also be developed to rear Common Calp which is suited to cold weather.
As a part of the action plan for conservation and development of Loktak Lake, the state directorate of fishery is targetting to produce about 30 lakhs fish in Loktak Lake.
The state fishery minister Md Allaudin Khan who was to attended today`™s distribution function failed to turn up in time and reporters who went to cover the function had to return after meeting the fishery director.
