Fishery

Fish is one of the most important daily diet of 95% of Tripura's population with the State being recorded as the highest per capita consumer of fish amongst the Inland States of the country. The State made considerable achievements with regard to fish/prawn seed production during last decade of 20th century. It is rather surplus in fish seed (present production 287.3 million against a requirement of 183 million at the end of 2090-10). This is the first state in the North-East, rather one of the very few land locked states of the country, to produce juveniles of fresh (Macrobtachium rosembergii) in artificial sea water on a commercial scale. But the state remained far behind in fish production to fulfill the nutritional requirement of fish for its populace till early years of 21st century (availability 5.9 kg/capita in 2003-04).

Realizing the need for fishery development, a ‘Perspective Plan’ to attain nutritional self sufficiency in fish (targeted availability @ 13kg/capita instead of 11 kg/capita as recommended) as State’s own production by 2010-12 was formulated and implemented since October, 2004.

Perspective Plan:

Under this plan the vital scheme area based approach for comprehensive development of fishery had been taken-up. With this aim at least one model aquaculture village is proposed to be developed in each Block of the State. till 2010-11, 42 (forty two) villages have been developed as model aqua-village.

List of model aqua-village of Tripura 2010-11:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

There are 142 Fisherman Co-operative Societies including one Apex Co-operative Societies. The State Development of Fisheries is providing technical and economic support to the less privileged societies for their proper growth in fish production. Department also formed 1,285 Self Help Groups (SHGs) on fishery activities in the State.

The members of the Fisherman Co-operative Societies have been covered under the "Fisherman Accident Insurance Scheme". Besides, housing facilities are also provided to the poor fisherman families. Till March 2011, 1626 houses have been constructed and provided to poor fisherman families. In addition, financial assistance has been made to 1,105 fishermen of Dumber Reservoir under saving cum relief schemes during lean fishing period of 2010-11.

District wise water area and production of fish excluding raw fish, let-in sun drying during 2010-11:

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Increased availability of quality of fish fingerlings:

Resultant to the stress given to fish seed production by adopting hypophysation technique as the both Indian major carp and Chinese carp are widely popular specialty in the private sector since last decade of 20th century. Thus, the State become surplus in fish seed (at the end of 2010-11 the production was 295 million against the requirement of 190 million). About 97% fish produced are produces in private sector.

Production of Prawn Juvenile:

Tripura is only land locked State in the country producing juveniles of giant fresh water prawn on commercial scale in artificial sea water. For this purpose 7 prawn hatcheries (3 in Government sector and 4 in private sector) have been established and these are being utilized regularly for production of prawn seed on commercial scale. In the year 2010-11, 9.11 lakhs fresh water prawn seed (juvenile) has been produced in Government sector. The Prawn Juveniles produced and being supplied to the farmers of remote areas of the State for cultivation and also to other NE States. Considering its high market value, emphasis has also being laid on popularizing of prawn farming in the State on dissemination of the technology to the educated youths/SHGs through development of prawn villages. So far the State has able to develop 20 prawn villages which are listed in the following table.
 

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11

Construction of Fish Farmers Training Centre:

To motivate fish farmers at Gram Panchayat / Block etc. levels training camps are being organized and incentives given to the selected fish farmers for production of fish. Keeping in view of the above, the State has already established seven training centers at Bishalgarh, Lembucherra and College Tilla under West Tripura District, one at Udaipur under South Tripura District, two at Harinakhola and Chailengta under Dhalai District and another one at Kumarghat of North Tripura District.

Propagation of Pabda and Chitala fish:

Pabda (O. bimaculatus) is a threatened fish species and has been declared as "State Fish" in Tripura. For the purpose of its conservation and culture, the state has standardized the technique. For breeding of pabda, two batcheries have been established in Government sector and now in operation. The fish seed that are produced in the pabda hatcheries are stocked in the farmers ponds for culture. Success has also been achieved in seed production of Chitala (N. chitala) under Live Gene Bank Programme. The seed of chitala that are produced are stocked in Gumti Reservoir and distributed among the farmers for culture.

Fish Feed Manufacturing Plant:

Availability of good quality balanced fish feed has been a major constraint in popularization of fish culture in the State. To over come this problem fifteen fish feed plants so far been established in the State for production and supply of balance fish feed.

Establishment of Soil & Water Testing Laboratories:

Knowledge about the soil and water quality for the aqua-culture is most essential for undertaking scientific fish culture. Realising the importance of such a facility, so far the State Fisheries Department created fourteen such soil and water testing laboratories in the four districts.

Establishment of Fish Feed Analysis Laboratory:

To monitor the quality of fish feed being locally produced in the State, three laboratory have been established one at Agartala,Udaipur and Kumarghat.

Fish culture in Re-grouped village & forest areas:

A programme for bringing newly created water bodies of forest areas including patta holders and re-grouped village under scientific fish culture has been initiated. The concerned members of Joint Forest Management Groups (JFMs)/ forest dwellers/ patta holders are being provided necessary fish culture inputs and training for fish culture.

Popularization and use of "Areator" in fish culture:

Towards popularization and use of “Areator" in hi-tech fish culture for quantum increase in fish productivity, about sixty two "Areator" have been supplied to the farmers during 2010-11.

Raising of Stunted fingerlings for stocking of culture ponds:

“Stunted fingerlings” are known to perform better as stocking material. The work on a rising of stunted fingerlings in government farms was initiated during 2007-08. This programme has now started amongst fish farmers of the State.

Development of Fisheries in Open water bodies:

The objective under this programme is ranch the open water bodies (i.e., river, lake and reservoir) of the State with size of fingerlings (7-10 cm and above 10 cm size) for enhancing fish yield as well as ensuring income potential of the fishermen living in and around the water bodies Presently, fish from Dumber Reservoir is being harvested through license holder fishermen and royalty is collected from harvested fish.

Improvement of Brood Stock:

Genetic deterioration because of repeated inbreeding and inhibition of growth has been observed in the presently available hatchery bred seed used for fish culture. A programme for genetic improvement of brood stock (through replacement of existing brood stock) has been initiated by collecting fish seed from rivers and utilizing them as brood stock after required rearing.

Establishment of Research Laboratory with PCR facilities for fish disease:

Two research laboratory (with PCR facilities) have been established one at Udaipur and other at Kumarghat for fish disease diagnostics and treatment.

Concluding remarks:

Agriculture and allied sector is the backbone of the State’s economy. As the population will be increasing and would estimated to reach 38.30 lakhs by 2015, the requirement of food-grains, fruits and vegetables, milk, meat, fish, egg etc including animal feeds would also naturally be increased, substantially. If the present deficit trends of food, fruits and vegetable, fish, egg etc. continuous, the State would definitely face, more deficits by 2015 due to more supply side demand.

Therefore, the State must emphasis on the effective implementation of the Perspective Plans on Agriculture/ Horticulture/Animal Resources and Fishery to over come the food deficits as well as generating the employment.

The weaknesses of the State agriculture includes the low productivity, limited utilization of irrigation facilities, limited storage facilities, complete non-existence of organized retail trade especially to the fruits and vegetables, quality control as well as modern farming techniques.

The opportunities available from the favourable agro-climatic condition for horticultural crops including medical and herbs in the State, which should fully be utilised. The growing middle class of the State increases the demand for the horticultural produce both fresh and processed, which need to be tapped by the local entrepreneurs.

The adoption of modern agricultural techniques, higher quality breeds for animal husbandry and horticultural sectors as well as irrigation facilities would able to solve the rural poverty and employment to a large extent in the State. Moreover, use of better quality of seeds for higher productivity per acre in agriculture is also needed. The State may directly approach for such techniques and breeds as well as know how suitable for the State from abroad particularly from the South-East Asian countries.

In WTO regime, some of important issues concerning the Indian farmers especially for North-East remained unresolved and therefore, there is need for sufficient protection of these farmers in North-East since entire economy and its employment are heavily depends upon the agriculture In this regard, a new strategy for meeting these new challenges as well as opportunities especially for North for building productive agricultural base away from subsidy base strategy under new WTO regime is required. Moreover, it would uplift and relief the large number of poverty ridden rural jhumia, tribal families.

Besides, targeted achievement of nutritional self sufficiency in fish by end of 2010-11 (expected production 46,100 ton to suffice over 13 kg/capita of fish avail ability), confidence building and entrepreneurship development in fisheries sector in the State during last seven years is evident from the fact that new ponds/mini- barrages are being created every year (culture fisheries resource area in 2010-11 increase by over 5% from that of 2003-04), gradual increase in no of fisheries/fish farmers (1.49 lakhs against 1.02 lakhs in 2003-04) has taken place and more and more fishery based SHGs were added every year (1284 in 2010-11 against 332 in 2003-04), who in addition to scientific fish culture have gone in for establishment of fish feed Manufacturing Plant and Prawn Seed Hatchery with financial assistance from Banks. People in general have come to believe that fish culture is the most profitable of all activities under Agriculture & Allied sectors Thus, it can be said that development of fisheries sector, in recent past has played an important role in the over all economic Development of Tripura State.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2010-11