Fish-surplus tag for Bihar soon likely

The Bihar state has attained almost self-sufficiency in fish reproduction and is soon likely to become a fish-surplus state. The state has a record production of 6.42 lakh metric tonnes in 2019-20. 

Official records show that the state produced 40,000 metric tonnes of fish more than the previous fiscal (2018-19). “With the adoption of modern technological innovations, production is likely to increase manifold in the coming years,” said special secretary-cum-director of state fisheries Dharmendra Singh.

Giving details of the strategies being adopted by the department to enhance fish production in the state, Singh said that fishermen are being granted as high as 90% subsidy in purachsing feed and seed for fish production. Culture-based fisheries have increased the production considerably in recent years, he said.

He further pointed out that the selection of suitable species of fishes for largescale production has also led to production growth. Farming of Pangasius fish (best known as basa), which has picked up in the districts of Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Nalanda, parts of Patna, Gopalganj, Siwan, Saran, Muzaffarpur, and Samastipur has contributed greatly to the quantum jump in fish production.

“Pangasius fish culture also gives better productivity level. Against around three tonnes of production in one hectare of waterbody in case of farming of Indian carps such as rohu, basa gives 20 tonnes to 40 tonnes per hectare,” Singh added.

However, Patna University zoology department teacher D K Paul observed that Bihar is still far behind in fish production as compared with other states. The per capita annual consumption of fish in Bihar is 7.7 kg per person, less than the national average of 10 kg and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-recommended 11.2 kgs.

Despite abundant aquatic resources in terms of about 3,200 km of rivers, 100,000 hectares chaurs and floodplain wetlands, 9,000 hectares of oxbow lakes or mauns, 7,200 hectares of reservoirs and 69,000 hectares of ponds and tanks, fish supply is short of demand in the state.

PU zoology department head Arbind Kumar said that the state is also likely to be benefited from the Rs 20,050 crore-Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) launched in September this year in 21 states, including Bihar. The scheme aims at doubling fisheries exports, creating more employment opportunities, and boosting the income of farmers.

Under this scheme, many facilities have been introduced in Patna, Purnia, Sitamarhi, Madhepura, Kishanganj and Samastipur districts of Bihar. “The PMMSY will ensure new infrastructure, modern equipment, and access to new markets to fish producers and improve avenues for increasing income apart from farming,” he added.

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