Success story in Fish Cultivation from Purulia

Introduction:

Involvement of tribal farmers in aquaculture activities such as composite carp culture can play a crucial role in their socio-economic development. Appropriate extension programme through capacity building, motivation and adoption of scientific technology can help tribal farmers in taking up aquaculture in a sustainable way. However the scientific fish culture among the tribes is still in its nascent stage in Purulia district despite having good availability of seasonal (with minimum of 6 month water retention capacity) and/or perennial water. There are several constraints, which serve as major reasons behind the poor fish production in these tribal villages, such as, non-availability of desired quality and quantity of fish seed, absence of organized marketing and lack of knowledge among farmers about updated tools and modern practices. All these factors not only hamper fish production, but also deprives the beneficiaries from the economic benefit . 

One of the major objective of Agricultute Support System under WBADMIP is to disseminate useful and practical information. One good way to do this is through well-planned and carefully-conducted demonstrations. On-farm demonstrations serve as one of the most effective Extension education tools ever developed.

Although complete demonstrations require considerable time and effort, the payback comes when beneficiaries more readily adapt practices they perceive to be appropriate under local conditions. This is known as “seeing is believing.” And the beneficiaries who observe demonstrations of the latest techniques or practices and then apply them to their own particular situations are our present and future progressive farmers.

 Going by the above words, project officials after a thorough survey and meeting with local villagers, decided to adopt a local pond named Salkar Bundh as demonstration centre to display the benefits of carp culture through composite farming. 

 Status of Salkar Bundh before, during and after intervention by WBADMIP, Purulia

  

                     

           Before adoption,  the average productivity of the  pond was 350 kg ha-1 and  the farmers mostly used stock mixed seeds of Indian Major Carps (Catla,  Rohu & Mrigala). Fish seed of  1.5-2 cm size fry were stocked at an average density of 5000-6000 per hectare . Surprisingly, there was no previous account of using critical inputs in the pond which has been one of the reason for poor productivity.          
Under the new composite culture, Fingerlings (10-12 cm) of Catla, Rohu, Mrigala, Silver carp, Grass carp and Common carp were stocked at the ratio of 1.5 : 2 : 2 : 1 : 1.5 :2 with an average stocking density of 10000-12000 fingerlings per hectare.                                                          

   The FIG members were given on site training on freshwater aquaculture emphasizing on importance of removing aquatic weeds and predatory fishes, pond preparation, liming, stocking, manure application, supplementary feeding, health care, harvesting etc which previously they were unaware of.

           Under post-stocking care of fishes, the beneficiaries were taught about the importance of  organic manure and inorganic fertilizer in augmenting the phytoplankton production. About 35% crude protein containing pelleted supplementary fish feed was given @ 2-3% of the estimated biomass. Depending on the water quality, lime was applied as per requirement. Periodic sampling was done to monitor fish health status. . Critical inputs like fish seed, lime, feed and fertilizers were provided to the groups as a part of hand holding support.

Inputs during demonstration based share percentage as per variable cost of materials used.

                
 By putting use of new practice learnt in the WBADMIP training, FIG members could get a total production of 2805 kg of fish  which is more than 700 % increase than the traditional practice they used to adopt previously. They earned 322575 INR(Rs 115/kg average price) against an input expenditure of 100216 INR just within seven months which is making aquaculture one of the most profitable agriculture activity in recent times.The success in fish farming has given not only the FIG members a new found confidence but it is also bringing a ray of hope for other small and marginal farmers who are desperately looking for an alternative and more lucrative agriculture activities.