Local youth scripts success story

Ormental fish farming


By our Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, March 17: Around two lakh ormental fishes of different species are imported from Kolkata and Bombay to Guwahati daily. 
They are gold fish, red carp, swan kin, mlack more, angel, koi carp, gutti, plati, short tail, black molly, white molly, golden molly, balloon molly, cat fish, chicrid etc., are imported to Guwahati from Kolkata and Mumbai. An estimated around 60 lakh fishes of different species of ormental fish imported from outer states of the Northeast cater to the need of customers in the state.
Matchya Gandha, an ormental fish farm in Dhing in gaon district, is contributing to the need of customers. The first initiative towards breeding and rearing of ormental fish in the State in a big way was started in 2012. Around 23 km from gaon in Dhing the farm spans over a three-kotha land with an aquarium house of 20/20 sq. ft, a farm house of 400 sq. ft, and 40 cemented tanks on the remaining two-and-a- half-kotha plot. The farm achieves the target of yielding 5 lakh ormental fishes of different varieties set by the farm authorities themselves. 
“The idea is to realize the dream of a fish village. We call rainbow revolution – the me refers to the colours of ormental fishes. There’s a huge demand for ormental fish in the state. The temperature and climate conditions in Assam are suitable for breeding and rearing ormental fishes.  Quality of water of Assam is better than that of Kolkata. The water in tanks of fish farms of Kolkata is contamited. The fishes which are imported from other states can be bred and reared in Assam,” Partha Rathi Hazarika, owner of Matchya Gandha, said.
Hazarika invested around Rs 25 lakh to set up the farm. The farm has 52 farmers, including 40 women. Seven people are employed in magement and marketing. Youths who are interested in ormental fish are given training in the farm. Forty trainees are currently learning fish farming. “Seeds are given to the trainees for breeding. They deal with rearing, mainly. They pay me back the price of the seeds, keeping the profit with them. This way, they learn the trade and reduce my labour. The training would also help them in future if they want to do something on their own,” he said.
“We breed 18 varieties of fish here, indoors. After rearing for a period of two or two-and-a-half years the fishes attain the salable size. The climatic conditions and the quality water help them grow fast. We’ve been breeding almost all fishes that are being imported from outside the state. We sell at a price 25 per cent less than that of Kolkata. Fish prices range from Rs 10 to Rs 250 per piece. We cater to the need of 6,000 aquariums in gaon and the districts nearby,” Hazarika said. Hazarika receives technical support from Fishery College in gaon, Dhing College and Krishi Vigyan Kendra, gaon to address disease in fishes.
A science graduate from gaon College, Hazarika had undergone a course on industrial fisheries and fish as well in the college. He also had exposure practice – three months in Kerala and four months in Kolkata.  
An ormental fish farm requires water sources, a filtration system, cement tanks, oxygen cylinders, packing materials, life-saving goods, agro shade nets, light food, and kitchen ponds as infrastructure. Lack of awareness, proper training and paucity of motivators are the prime reasons for Assam not being self-sufficient in ormental fish production.

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