Fish feed: Quality key to increased production, farmers’ income

[caption id="attachment_138304" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Resource persons, departmental officials and farmers pose for a group photograph at the training programme on aquaculture that was held at Kohima on September 11.[/caption] Kohima, Sep. 11 (EMN): The ‘Blue Revolution’—the emergence of aquaculture as an important and highly productive agricultural activity—has set goals toward achieving economic prosperity of fishermen and farmers. It has impacted a need to increase fish production in the state, which can be achieved through quality fish food made from locally-available feed ingredients. With the requirement of fish in Nagaland on the rise over the past few years, it was informed that fish production in the state currently stands at 8605 metric tonnes (MT) from 3298 hectares of ponds. It was further informed that the department of Fisheries envisage increasing fish production to 22,000 MT by 2020. Speaking during a training programme about preparing farm-made feed with locally available ingredients for fish production, Kevisa Kense, director of Fisheries opined that ‘with the banning of creation of new water bodies, farmers need to emphasise on utilising available resources to the fullest to achieve the set targets.’ With fish feed becoming more expensive, Kense called it important for fish farmers to have technical knowledge about preparing feed from locally available ingredients for more ‘economically viable feed.’ Also, the official said that successful aquaculture requires a lot of inputs. Kense called for integrated research and development, and technological knowledge to increase productivity and income of the fishing community. Resource persons for the training programme were Dr PP Chakrabarti, chairman, NEH Development; and Dr BN Paul, state coordinator for Nagaland. Dr Chakrabarti said it was important for the farmers to learn how to prepare feed by themselves with locally available ingredients to increase productivity. He observed that the main problem fishermen in the Northeast face relate to the increase in the cost of feed, unavailability of feeds; lack of proper outlets and issues with quality. The resource person expressed concern at the early monsoon and prolonged winter in the state. He said the stated conditions hamper maturity of fish. He has pointed to the need for the department and fish farmers to find strategic options to increase production. Stating that 60% of input of a farmer is through feed, Dr Paul has emphasised on the need for formulation of cost-effective feed from locally-available ingredients. Further, he explained the numerous health benefits of fish. Besides department officials, the training programme saw the attendance of entrepreneurs and progressive fish farmers from the districts of the state.