Fish Farming: Punjab Government to promote

Chandigarh, October 30, 2012:  The Punjab government has decided to encourage farmers to engage in fish farming during the current season with a target to bring an additional 1,000 hectares of land under alternative farming.

Disclosing this here today Des Raj Dhugga, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Animal Husbandry and Fisheries said that under this programme, the state government would provide subsidy to the fish farmers. The fish production in the state has increased from 6000 kg per hectare to 6560 kg per hectare during last two years. He also said that during the last two years about 2000 hectare new area has been brought under fish culture as a result of which 11287.00 ha total area is under fish culture in the state. With the result 50,000 people got direct and indirect employment.

Adding further, he said that special efforts have been made to utilized waterlogged areas in the state for fish farming. A joint project with dairy department at village Abul Khurana has been initiated. One demonstration Pond of 2.50 acre is being established under this project for development of water logged area for fish culture, added Dhugga. Referring to the last two years’ revenue earned from out of fish farming, the CPS said that an income of Rs.398.28 lac has been earned from the auction of fishing rights of the notified waters of the state.

He said an estimated 2,247 lakh new fish seeds would be prepared in the current season, besides imparting training to 6,000 fish farmers. The proposal regarding mobile establishment of fish lab, holding fish fairs and arranging fish markets, besides initiating fish development projects has been sent for approval, he added.   He added that the development program also included stocking of fishes in Ranjit Sagar Dam at Gurdaspur and construction of 9 cluster ponds in Mukatsar district on subsidy basis worth Rs 5.56 lakh.     He also said that 11 model fish ponds have been established in different districts of the State in which intensive fish farming on scientific lines was being developed. A target to produce 8-10 tonne fish per hectare has been set up. With the success of this programme the farmers around these areas will be motivated and more and more farmers will come forward to adopt intensive fish culture, said Dhugga.