chai
rr:R
iv
PROSPECT OF PISCICULTURE IN ASSAM
It has been stated earlier that pisciculture
is
an
important
source
of
section of people of Assam.
Assam
are
industry.
directly
or
livelihood
for
a
certain
About 1.3 percent people Of
indirectly
Assam offers almost
all
connected
the
with
physical
this
and non-
-physical facilities for the development of pisciculture.
In
this
chapter
different
an
attempt
factors
for
is
being
the
made
future
to
analyse
development
of
pisciculture industry in Assam.
Climatic condition of pisciculture;
It is found that different kinds of fishes in-habit in different climatic conditions.
inland
fishes
are
concerned
they
But,
thrive
as
far as
most
in
the
tropical regions where surface water is result of h*;avy
rain. Generally speaking, the belt between 0°C to 40°C is
favourable
for ideal
fish culture as
natural habitate of fishes. No doubt,
an
important
role
in
fish
it is the common
temperature plays
productivity,
because,
different factors like chemical composition of soil and
water varies with the variation of temperature.
The
proportion of dissolved gases viz., oxygen, carbon-dioxide,
alkalinity
etc.
varies
the fish productivity,
and
physical
feeding,
aquatic
with
to a great
activities
reproduction,
organisms
temperature
and
are
greatly
effect
extent."All metabolic
life
movement
which
processes
and
such
as
distribution
of
influenced
by
water
temperature"
According
to
the
heat
tolerance
fishes
may be
devided into two group, cold water and warm water
fishes.
Fishes
surviving within
cold water fishes and the
0°C
to 20°c
are
called
species which thrive upto 40°
C are called warm water fishes. For example, Indian major
1 . V .G . Jhingran,(1977); Fish and Fisheries
Second edition, 1977 p. 354.
of
India,
99
carp
can
survive
comfortably
where as tropical Tilapia
mossambica
8.9° C.Similarly, Grass carp,
China
can
live
within
upto
18.3°C
cannot
to
37.8°C
exists below
tenopharynqodon idella of
40°
C
while
silver
carp,
Hypophthalmichthys molitrix can not survive at 40°C. The
airbreathing
fishes
viz.?
Anabas
punctatus, Heteropneustes
testudiness,
Channa
fossils, clarias battrachuss
etc. can even survive at 39°C to 41°C.^
'
The temperature of Assam varies from 5°C to
38# 7C throughout the year. So, b©th cold and warm water
fishes
may
tolerance
thrive
range
of
in
Assam
heat
and
can
fishes
naturally
with
adopt
highest
in
this
region.
In different water bodies of Assam, hundreds
of species live
comfortabily, with all the variation of
temperature of
the region.
species
and
may
therefore
be
are
Many
suitable
cultivated
in
of the
for
existing
commercial
organised
farm
for
fish
purposes
better
production. About 41 species found in the Brahmaputra,
sustained commercial value.
2
12
Besides indigenous fish species some exotic
species having the tolerance capacity to Assam climate
like Silver carp, common carp, Grass carp, Javanica etc.
have been gradually introduced for well-species mix for
optimum production.
i
So far the rainfall is concerned,. Assam is
in the south-West monsoon belt which experiences heavy
rain from June to September. Rain is the main source of
1.
Das,
A.K.(1945); Lethal temparature of some airbreathing and non-air-breathing fishes of
India, Sci, cult. 11:164-67.
2. Matwani, M.P., Jayaram, K.C. and Sehgal, K.L.(1962).
Fish and fisheries of Brahmaputra river
system, Assam.
l.Fish fauna with observations on their
Zoo-geographical significance, Trop. Ecol.
3(1-2): 17-43,.
water in
Assam
water bodies
and
retained
for 9 to 10 months
is
naturally
in
different
each year and,
favourable.
supply
from
April to December is ideal for fish cultivation.
Eventually,
the
such,
water
Water resources and productivity
So,
as
period
:
,
A s s a m is endowed with
potential
water resources and can meet the requirements of
developed
pisciculture.
of fish
The Brahmaputra is the main
production alongwith
which
different beels, ponds,
supplement the supply
percent
of
total
source
to a great
production
is
swamps etc.
extent.
through
About
capture
75
fishery
as estimated during 1992 in the state. But,though capture
fishery
dominates
the
fish
£e yield is comparactively-
production,
much
lower
the per hectar
when
compared
to
culture fishery.
The
value
of
fish
production
from
open
water(river and beel) varies from 5 Kg. to 100 Kg./ha/yr.
in
Assam.
However,
the
production
rate
is
higher
in
beels. The per hectare production from open w ater sources
like beel,
kg.
lake, .reservoir etc.
in other
part
of the
varies
country.
Chaudhury and Benerjee 1 9 6 5 1
2 ; Halt,
Tripathi,
1 9 6 4 4 ).
But
the
from
5 kg.
(Sreenivashan,
196 6 3 ;
production
to
75
1964"S
Jhingran and
rate
is
about
lOOkg/ha/year from unmanaged and underdeveloped condition
1. Sreenivashan, A. (1964). Limnological studies of fish yield
in
three upland lakes of Madras states, India, Limnol ,
and Oceanography 9(4); 564-75.
2. Choudhury,
H.L. and B e n e r j e e ( 1965).
Report
on
the
fisheries of Mani p u r w ith special reference
to the development of the Takmu Beel area of
Loktok Lake, M i s . c o n t r . c o n t .
i n i . Fish
R e s . I n s t . B a r r a c h p o r e , 4:2 9 P P .
3. Halt, S.I.7T966). T h e distribution of freshwater fish
production
to
human
nutrition
and
well
being, in the Biogoical basis of freshwater
fish production, ed. S.D. Gerkins, Blackwell
S cientific Publication Oxford, PP. 465-467.
4. Jhingran, V.G. and Tripathi, Y.R.(1969). A review of
the measures adopted for the development of
the fisheries of reservoirs in India, in
seminer on the ecology and fisheries of
fresh w ater reservoirs. -Sponsored by ICAR at
CIFRI, Barrac h p o r e , p p . 27-29.
101
of beel in Assam
modification,
obtained
An
(Adhikari et al,
a
production
from beels of
average anuual
recorded
in
Therefore,
yield
1984
with
of
Assam
at
proper
\ W i t h little more
160
( Dutta
of
Dhir
1
1986
381
kg./ha/year
and
Lahan,
kg/ha/year
beel
(Y.S.
modification
the
was
1987
2
).
was
Yadav,
also
3
1986' ).
production
rate
may be increased per hectare water area.
Ponds
and
tanks
are
found
to
be
more
suitable for fish cultivation as they are more easily manageable.The
present production rate of pond varies from 300kg. -fco 700kg. per hec­
tare under traditional practice. Under scientific practice the
is
about
2000
kg/ha/year
occassionally,some
kg/ha/year
in
at
farmers are able
some
part
of
the
present.
to obtain
state.
rate
However,
about
The
3000
average
potential productivity of pond has been estimated at 3000
4
kg/ha/year.
CIFRI, Guwahati, recorded 4200 kg/ha/year at
Guwahati.
is
quite
4000 kg.
But
high
under
in
composite
other
part
culture
of
the
practice
country.
to 6000 kg./ha/year can easily
the
A
rate
be obtained
farmers pond under composite culture practice.
rate
of
from
Farmers of
Andhra Pradesh produce 14.63 t o n / h a / y e a r (Subrahmanyan et,
1. Adhikari,
A.K.;
Bhowmick,
D;Chakraborty,
M.B.;
Chandarkar, V.B.; De, P.K.;Katre, U . A . ;R o y c h o w d h u r y , A
and Yadav,
Y . S . (1986).
Limnology and productivity of
ox-bow lakes, in data analysis in the life. Sc, Proc.
Workshop Indian statg. Inst. Calcutta, P.225-235.
2.
Dutta,
P.N.
and
L a h a n , B . (1987)
Prospect
and
potentialities
of
beel
fishery
in
Assam.
Compendium-workshop on development of beel fishery in
Assam. April 1987, P 2-7.
3. Yadav, Y . S . (1987). Studies on the ecology of an ox-bow
lake in context to the Development of beels in Assam
compendium-workshop on development of beel fishery in
assam, April, 1987, PP 70-94.
4. Project report on pond Fisheries Development
Agricultural Finance consultant ltd. 1989.
in Assam,
102
al , 1992K12
that
the
under this practice.
average
maitaining
grower
proper
of
norms
Assam
in
It is also observed
in
this
General
Regards.
are
not
With
due
modiification and improvement of different factors,
the
fish production may be enhanced sufficiently, because it
has
highly
potential
water
resources
which
can
be
utilised for fish cultivation very successfully.
Soil and water quality
;
The physical and chemical quality of water,
as well as, soil are the main factors of fertility. The
quality of soil and water vary from region to region and
source
to
source.
The
table
4.1 depicts
the water
soil quality of different water sources of Assam.
4.2
shows
Benarjea:(
the
Standard
1967)
. A
pH,' alkalinity,
factors of
Assam.
water
quality
as
Table
suggested
compari ^sion of these factors
Dissolved oxygen,
etc.
and
which
are
by
like'
vital
fish growth lying in the productive range
in
Position of
Different Water bodies
Pond
Ponds and tanks are the most suitable place
:
:
for fish cultivation. In Assam, there are about 15,2,512
ponds of varying sizes which cover 23 thousand hectares
of
land.
condition
About
14,500
which
can
hectare
be
pond
utilised
area
for
are
fish
in
good
cultivation
successfully. But it is disgraceful that only 10 percent
of
it has
With
due
been utilised
renovation,
for culture
the
entire
practices
pond
area
so
could
far.
be
utilised for scientific, fish cultivation.
1. Subrahmanyan, N.S. and R.S.R. Anjaneyula,(1992). Inl­
and fisheries in Andhra Pradesh: Present
status and prospects of development. Fishing
Chimes, Dec '92, P. 49.
2. Benarjea, S.M.(1967). Water quality and soil'condition
of fish ponds in some states of India in
relation to fish production. Ind. J. Fish.
14(182):115-144.
----------------
103
Table 4.1: WATER QUALITY OF DIFFERENT RESOURCES
IN ASSAM
Particulars
Pond
Beels
1
River(Brahma­
putra}
Water quality
6.0- 7.5
7.6-
12.0-80.0
63.3-
P«
Total alkalinity
(mg l-1)
7.2- 0.4
Dissolved oxygen
(mg l"*1 )
8.2-10.16
Nitrogen(mg l”^)
0.09-0.12 trace- 1.72
3.0-15.0
Phosphate(mgl ^ ) 0.11-0.12
Soil Qualifity
pH
4.4- 6.4
Organic Carbon(%)
0.6- 7.0
Available phosphorus(mg/100gm).
-
0.64-10.0
0.22-3.0
7.9
79
6.56-
8.67
0.07-
0.10
0.07-
0.17
-
Source : 1. Project report of CICFRI,Guwahati
2. Dutta, P.N. and Lahan, B.(1987). Prospect &
potentialities of beel fishery in Assam,Co­
mpendium-Workshop on development of beel
fishery in Assam, April, 1987, p. 2-6.
3. Project report of pond fisheries developed
in Assam. Agricultural Finance Consultants
Ltd. 1989.
Beel
:
Beels covered 80 percent(1 Lakh hectares) of
the total
lentic area of the
state. (Dey,
1981)1,
shallower part of which can be used for scientific fish
cu^-^ivation like pen culture and the deeper portion for
1.
Dey,
S.C.(1981),
Studies on the hydrobiological
condition of some commercially important
lakes(beels) of Kamrup district of Assam and
their bearing of fish production. Final
Technical Report(NEC).
g
AbovelO.O
Below 6.5
Above300.0
Below
5
8
Below
Above
0.02
0.1
0.3
8.5
- 15.0
6.0
3.0 - 6.0
7.5
0.20
1.3
9.0
-2.5
-
-
- 90.0
-
1.5
6.5
Above-
0.3
5.0
40.0
7.5
Ranges in high
productive water
bodies.
0.5 - 1.5
5.5 - 6.5
0.02- 0.05
0.1
3.0 - 5.0
20.0 -40.0
6.7 - 7.5
Ranges in average
roductive water
odies.
Source : 3enarjea, S.M. (1967). Water quality and
soil condition of
fish
vonds in some states of India in relation to fish production. Ind.
Orgaric
Below 0
Carrent%)Above 2
Available Below 3
phe~phorusAbove25
(me lOOqm)
pH
SOIL I!-ALITY
Phcsr.-.ate Below
(mg l-i)
Nitr;-jen
(ml ")
Dissolved
Oxvcar (m
Below3.0
1 )
Abovel6.0
(mg ?_1)
Total alkaliniry
BelowlO.OO
pH
WATE? QUALITY:
Ranges in Unproduc­
tive water bodies
Table 4.2 :Recommended ranges of water and soil qualities
and productivity in Freshwater for fish culture.
105
capture
fishery
and
cage
culture
practice,
with
due
modification. The beels of Assam have the potentiality to
produce
at
least
70,000
tonnes
of
fish
annually.
If
developed in a planned manner controlling aquatic weeds,
deepening
and
renovating
migration of fish arid
fish
will
be
boundaries,
vulnerable
growing
for
free
fish juveniles, the production of
construction
points,
and
channels
increased sufficiently.Moreover,demarcation of
suitable
errosion
connecting
of
perimeter
construction
marginal
silting
up
of
approach
vegetation
of
the
bundhs
to
beels
important for the fish production.
at
roads
and
prevent
soil
etc.
are
The beels
also
alone
can
fulfill the home requirement of Assam.
Fish food organism is an important factor for
fish
prolification.'
Fish
denizens
maintain
a
balanced
population in beels of Assam(Lahan, 1979)1 2
. The fish food
production in
the form of limnoplankton (1207 u 1~^) and
2
zoobenthos (260 N N ) are of higher order in beels of
2
Assam(Lahan et al, 1982) .
'
Thus
from
every
aspect,,
the
production
potentiality of beels is found to be favourable for fish
cultivation.
fisherman
What
of
is
needed
different
is
the
culture
practices
spirit and labour on the part of the
Swamp and low-laying area
motivation
and
of
the
proper
concerning people.
:
A large area measuring about 6504 hectares is
covered
by
swamps
or
waste
land.
These
swamps
can
be
converted to productive fish farms. This type of swampy
land had been renovated for pisciculture successfully in
1. Lahan, B. (1979). Fishery potentialities of beels (Nee
lakes) in Assam- a case study, Froc, all
’ India Sem. Ichthyol, 2. PP. 4(Abst).
2. Lahan, B . , Goswami, M.M. and Dey S.C.(1982) Ecomorphology of some zoobenthes of some ichthy-potential beels of Assam, Ibid 2 23(Abst).
106
Orisa(Mitra,
19561 ). About
1410
hectares
area in Assam can be effectively used for
Airbreathing
fishes
Heterophenstes
like
fosiles
clarious
etc.
may
of
swamps
the purpose.
batt. .rachuss ,
be
cultured
more
successfully in swamps. So, swamps may be converted to
prospective
fish
farm
dewatering,
eradication
with
due
modification
of
weeds,
like
construction
of
dykes and turfing or sluicing provision etc.
Assam being an industrially backward state,
a
large
portion
of
its
manpower
remains
unused
resulting in the acute problem of underemployment. So,
supply of labour is not a big problem in Assam. What is
lacking is economically viable fish
prospects.
If
scientifically
farm with future
developed,
this
pisciculture sectbr can go a long way in providing job
opportunities to many unemployed youths
both educated
and illiterate.
To - day
finance
in
no
longer
a
baffling
problem in the state as different schemes sponsored by
the
Government
subsidies.
help
the
Government
people
also
with
organises
loans
training
impart technical knowledge to the fisherman
farmers. Besides,
farmers
and
provides
incentives
and fish
and economic development of fish
fisherman
in
particular,
Government
in terms of cash and kind.
incentives are seed at cheap price,
combat fish disease,
is
to
for the development of pisciculture
position in general
discussion
and
free chemicals to
supply of ducks etc.
provided
in
the
Other
latter
A detailed
part
of
this
chapter.
1. Mitra,
(1956),
Reclamation
of
development in Orissa,
ment, India, 54-62.
Swamps
Progr.
for
fishery
Fish Develop­
107
As
mentioned
earler,
under
scientific
culture
practices production rate is sure to go up to
several
thousand
practices
are
practices
have
the production
tonnes.
in
But,
initial
continued
in
stage
unabated
Assam,
and
and,
traditional
consequently,
rate has remained much
kg-700kg./ha/year. On the other hand,
culture
low,
i.e.
300
the demand for
fish has shot up in Assam as fish consumption rate is
maximum in this region(95%).
The state could produce
from all sources only 58 percent of its requirement.
So,
it is essential and urgent need to increase the
fish production to meet the
growing home demand.
Different pisciculture practices
;
The prospect of scientific cultivation of
fish
like
composite
practice
like
paddy-cum-fish
culture,
duck-cum-fish
culture,
dairy-cum-fish
farming
potentialities
in
day
in
Assam
Moreover,
and
climate
integrated
pig-cum-fish
etc.
have
The
demand
milk etc.
in
and
the
got
for
farming
culture,
poultry-cum-fish
Assam.
meat, duck and poultry,
or
culture,
tremendous
Rice,
Pig
are growing day by:
North
weather
Eastern
region.
conditions
are
sufficiently favourable for such culture practices.
Paddy being the main cultivation in Assam,
covers about 2572 thousand hectares of land, of which
128 thousand hectares are used for kharif production.
(H.B.
months
1992)^.These
rice
fields
from June to September,
retain water
they
for
3/4
can be utilised
for fish-cum-paddy cultivation much profitably.
So far
only 4598 hectare paddy field have been utilised for
paddy-cum-fish cultivation in Assam. This practice now
gaining ground among the cultivators.
In this method
1. Hand Book of Statistics, Assam, 1992.
108
the
cultivators
annually
in
may
earn
to
their
addtion
at
least
normal
R$.
10,000/-
income
per
hectare
of paddy land where all facilities are available.
Similarly pig and duck rearing is very common
amongst
the
resources
paddy
Tribal
nearby,
fields
culture.
provide
people
the
can
be
Government
technical
home
of
and
economically
the
profitably
has
also
guidance
and
backward
It
low
very
cash and kind for the purpose,
and
Assam.
needs
Lying
used
part
for
formulated
financial
water
of
combined
schemes
assistance
to
in
especially for the tribals
people.
This
seems
to
promising venture towards fishery development
be
a
in Assam.
Table 4.3 shows the economic viability of integrated farms' in Assam.
Ornamental Fish keeping
:
Ornamental fish keeping and their trading has
grown as a lucrative enterprise in the present day world.
Among
various
fish
ornamental value.
fauna
of Assam,
A study of ornamental
A ssam in Nowgong District,
of
them
Ichthyo
possess
fauna of
identified 43 species having
ornamental value.(Dutta et al,
help in finding
some
1992)^. Thorough study may
out more species of ornamental fishes in
Assam.These fishes may be reared and supplied to other
parts where demand for it is high and thus providing cash
money to the enterprenurs without much difficulty.
Model farming
:
Different
factors
like
climatic
social acceptance etc.
influence fish
extent and,
such practical consideration is to
be
kept
culture
pig,
1.
in
and
therefore,
mind
in
integrated
fish-cum-duck,
Dutta,
designing
culture
a
farming
condition
fish
practices
fish-cum-poultry,
to a great
farm.
Composite
viz,
fish-cum-
fish-cum-dairy,
O.K.,
and
Dey,
V.K.
(1992).
Ornamental
, Ichthyofauna
of
Assam.
Fishery
Chimes,
March, '92 PP 47.
250kg.
@Rs. 3/L.S.
L.S.
450
manday
L.s.
A. 7. Cost of housing
A. 8. Cost of Medicine
A. 9. Labour Cost
A10. Contingency
A. 6 . Cost of feed
70Nos.
10000
nos.
A. 4. Cost of fishseed
A. 5. Cost of (piglet/
duckling/seed)
500kg
LS
Unit
1000.00
18000.00
500.00
5000.00
7710.00
1400.00
2500.00
1500.00
3500.00
IN ASSAM
Contd
L.s.
450manday
L.S.
L.S.
L.S.
14 pig
let @ Rs,
250/-
500kg.
L.S.
1000.00
18000.00
500.00
5000.00
14000.00
3500.00
2500.00
1500.00
3500
[Total Exp,
(Rs.)
iFish-cum-pig
Total Exp.j Unit
(Rs.)
Fish-cum- duck
:ECONOMICS OF TWO LIER FISH FARMING
A. 3. Cost of Chemical
A. 2. Cost of Manuring
A. I. Preparation of pond
A. Expenditure
Table 4.3
L.S.
1000.00
20000.00
500.00
L.S.
500manday.
2000.00
6500.00
2700.00
2500.00
400.00
2000.00
4500.00
[Total Exp,
(Rs.)
L.S.
L.S.
900kg
@Rs. 3/-
Urea
(L.S)
L.S.
Unit
Fish-cum-paddy
109
- A)
Note
:i.The fixed cost
[Percentage of profit
(B
Gross Total
that
cost
600kg.
71.31%
4000kg,
paddy
hay
3 5.2 9 %|
17085.00
65500.00
1500.00
16000.00
48000.00
due to land and earth work not included in this analysis.
51.34%
40595.00
97520.00
71550.00
24274.00
37520.00
6300kgs
9450.00
70kg duck 2100.00
B. 2. Sale of meat/
egg/paddy/etc.
B. Total
60000.00
48415.00
56925.00
47276.00
60000.00
6315.00
7424.00
6166.00
200kg.
@15%
B. 1. Sale of fish
©.Return
k. Total
A.11. Interest on Capital
investment
/
111
fish-cum-horticulture,
fish-cum-paddy etc. are found to
be suitable in Assam.
Depending on nature of the farm
practices and feasibility two types of model farming may
be designed, composite and integrated furming. In Assam
•composite
culture
practice
and
integrated
culture
of
fish with paddy, pig and duck culture are in practice.
Model farming under compositeculture
In
guidlines
stages
have
scientific
to
be
:
cultivation,
different
strictly
different
followed
like preparation of pond,
in
recruitment of
seed,
supplement of artificial feeding, manuring, treatment cf
fish diseases, maintenance of water quality etc.
Construction and preparation of the pond
■As far
:
as Assam is concerned,
the
condition of the pond fishery is that the dyke
first
of the
pond needs to be high as to prevent the outside water
into
the
pond
during
floods.
Secondly,
the
pond
bed
should be treated properly with lime and organic manure
like cowdung to kill the germ and to increase the pond
fertility to the desired level.
In the third step,
unwanted fishes must be
removed before
new
should
seeds.
Old
stocks
be
recruitment
completely
the
of
removed
from the pond before recruitment of new lot. In place of
cowdung "multiplex" may be used as manure.
Selection of fish species
Species
common
to
:
selection
agriculture,
animal
is an
important
husbandry
and
which is vitally related to fish production.
on the availability of food chain'
factor
fishery,
Depending
in water level, three
exotic and three indegeneous species according to their
habit and habitates can be cultured together for optimum
112
Table 4.4 :DOSES OF LIME AND OTHER MANURE
Item
Doses
Period of appli­
cation .
Lime
65 kg/Bigha
At the initial
stage.
Organic manure
cowdung
400kg/Bigha
After 7 days
of liming.
100 kg/Bigha
Per month
Urea
iKg/Bigha
Per month
Superphosphate
4Kg/Bigha
Per month
Murate of potash
NOTE
0.66 kg/Bigha
Per mont
: Use of organic manure should be controled
according to the production of plakton in the
watesr body.
Source
: Govt, of Assam.
113
production. The suitable indigenous species are
respectively
Catla
catla(surface
feeder),
L.
Rahita(middle feeder),
Mrigal(bottom
feeder) and exotic
species
carp(Surface
feeder),
are
silver
carp(bottom feeder),
ideal
combination
respectively
inclusive
hectare
of
5000
for
mortality
is
the
at
the
above
fingerlings
proper
of
Grass carp(grass
seed,
of
mentioned
habitation.
the
feeder)
ratio
should
amount
common
be
etc.
The
4:5:3:3:3:2
species^- All
recruited
Depending
on
per
the
may
be
increased
growth
of
fishes,
accordingly.
Supplementary feeding
For
:
proper
supplementary feeding is essential besides natural food.
Keeping
in mind
mixture
ofrice
theecological
bran
and
condition
Mustard
oil
of
cake
Assam,
in
a
equal
proportions is to be used regularly, Additional food is
to be
supplied as per the following guidelines.
Table 4.5 :RATE OF SUPPLEMENTARY FEEDING
Period(days)
Quantity/Bigha/day
Total(kg)
Upto 90
90 - 180
300 gm.
600 gm.
27
54
180 - 270
1 Kg.
90
270 - 360
1 .3kg.
117
288
Total 360
Source: Directorate of Fishery, Govt, of Assam.
1. Leaflet published by fishery Department, Govt, of
Assam.
i
114
Production
:
The
prevailing
kg/ha/year
in
fish
Assam
through
production
may
be
scientific
under
the
expected
condition
above
cultivation.
The
4000
average
size of the fishes under such condition should be above
1 kg/year.
A Cobb-Doughlas production function may be
suitably
fitted
to
estimate
the
fish
production
of
organised farm.
According to Cobb- Douglas
P = b Ia L 1_a
-------(4.1)
Where P = Production of fish.
I = Index of
total investment.
L = index of farm size(land in
hectare).
a and b are unknown constants.
Under
the
condition
of Assam,
the model
farming
with
proper scientific care should produce fish according to
the following mathematical modal .
P = 3.99014
I °*0007
L°-09993 -- (4.2)
The average fish production of per hectare
water area is:
dp
- 3.99014 x 0.9993 x (— J— )0 '0007
= 3.98735.
(
) °-0007 ---(4.2)
JL~«
115
It is found that composite culture
practice is a very profitable and economically viable
practice in Assam. To comprehend the idea an economic
analysis is made as follows :Table 4.5 :ECONOMIC OF COMPOSITE FISH FARMING
(Area ane hectare)
Expenditure :
A. Fixed Cost
A. 1.
A. 2.
Rs •
•
•
Cost of land(L.S.)
Cost of earthwork(L.S.)
Rs. 40,000.00
Rs. 20,00.00
Rs. 60,000.00
B. Variable Cost :
8 • 1•
Cleaning of pond(L.S.)
Rs.
B. 2.
Cost of preparation(L.S.) Rs.
B. 3.
Cost of manuring :
3.1 Liming
Rs.
3.2 Raw cattledung/
Rs.
Organic
Rs.
3.3 Inorganic
B. 4.
Supplementary feeding
Rs.
B. 5.
Rs.
Harvesting
B. 6.
Labour 365 manday @ Rs.30/- Rs.
B. 7.
Contingency
Rs.
B. 8.
Depreciation of'fixed
cost
5%
Rs.
B. 9.
Interest on capital @Rs.l5/-Rs.
Rs.
Return
1,500.00
3,050.00
2,750.00
2,000.00
1,500.00
6,750.00
1,500.00
10,950.00
1,000.00
3,000.00
14,100.00
48,100.00
:
C.
Gross profit
Sale of 4000 kg fish
@ Rs. 30/= Rs. 71,900/-
Cost of production of per kg. fish =
Rs.1,20,00.00
1
Rs.
12.00. ,
116
Besides composite culture practice,
integrated farm practices viz., fish-cum-duck,
pig,
other
fish-cum-
fish-cum-paddy, fish-cum-dairy, fish-cum-horticul-
ture
etc.
are, a l s o , may
practices
also
have
profitable
in
our
been
be
accepted
adjudged
country,
besides
as
these
economically
having
tremendous
1
demand for all these product (Table 1.5).
In
composite
and
addition
two
to
tier
the
fish
above
mentioned
culture
practices
multi-culture practices viz., fish-duck-pig, fish-poultry
f
-dairy,
fish-pig-duck-horticulture
cultured
in
Assam.
So,
the
etc.
prospect
may
of
also
be
scientific
cultivation of fish is very bright in Assam.
Comparision between traditional and composite
pisciculture
:
The difference of both the above mentioned
practices may be explained as follows :1
a) Mode of operation.
b) Production.
c) Economy.
d) Employment generation.
Mode of operation
The
:
traditional
deviate significantly
traditional
different
removal
practice
factors
of
from
no
viz.,
unwanted
importance
preparation
aquatic
of species-mix,
culture
scientific
weed
recruitment of uniform seed in
combination
fish
has
of
and
practices
cultivation.
been
pond,
fish
scientific
In
given ‘ on
manuring,
species,
rate,
ideal
supply of artificial food,
117
treatment, use of chemical , analysis of water and soil
quality
etc.
On
the
contrary,
these
things
are
basic
criterion of composite culture practices.
Production
:
So
difference
and
is
far
as
highly
composite
production
significant
culture
practices.
is
concerned
the
between
traditional
Under
traditional
practice,
the rate 'varies from 300 kg- 700 kg/ha/year,
where
under
as
scientific .cultivation production
rate
goes above 4000 kg/ha/year easily. The rate may further
be
increased
recorded
to
several
14.63
ton/ha/year
(Subrahmanyan e t a l ,
Economy
tonnes
as
from
Andhra
Pradesh
farmers
pond
1992)^.
:
To comprehend the distinction of economic
viability,
an economy of the traditional practices
have
been tabulated in table 4.7.
Table 4.7 :ECONOMY OF TRADITIONAL CULTIVATION.
A. Expenditure
■:
Amount (inRs.)
A. 1. Cleaning (L.S. )
A. 2. Fish seed
Rs.
200.00
Rs.
3,500.00
A. 3. Cowdung(L.S.)
Rs.
200.00
A > 4. Harvesting
Rs.
800.00
A. 5. Contingency
Rs.
200.00
Rs.
4,900.00 "
Sale of 300 kg fish § Rs. 30/- =
Rs.
9,000.00
Gross profit B-A
Rs.
4,100.00
Cost of Production
Rs.
Total
:
B. Return:
16.3/kg.
1. N.S. Subrahmanyan and P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, 1992. Inland
fisheries in Andhra Pradesht Present Status
and prospects of Development Fishery Chimes,
Dec. -.92, P. 49.
118
A
comparision
of
Table
4.5
and
4.7
has
been presented as follows
Table 4.8 :COMPARISION OF COMPOSITE CULTURE PRACTICE
WITH TRADITIONAL PRACTICES.
Item
Traditional
Practices
Composite practice
Culture
i) Production of
fish/ha/
300 kg to 700kg.
4000 kg.
ii) Gross profit/ha R$71,9 00.00
iii) Cost of produc­
Rs.
tion / kg.
12.00
It is clear from the
hectare
fish
production
is
Rs.
4,100.00
Rs.
16.33
table
that
the per
significantly
high
in
composite culture practice. Similarly., the composite farm
yields
a Gross
profit
of Rs. 71,900.00,
high than the traditional practice
which
is
very
of Rs. 4,100.00
per
hectare. Regarding cost of production also, it is low in
composite
farming compared to traditional
practice.
It
is also very much clear that composite farming compared
to traditional practice
may be
considered
occupation
where
traditional
subsidiary occupation .
The
dependable
and
comparatively
composite
smaller
practice
culture
viable
area
as
because
than
a primary
serves
practice
this
the
is
as
more
requirestraditional
practice. As the land holding rate is dicreasing rapidly
with
the
increase
of population,
practice is more advisable. On
so composite
culture
the other hand composite
culture practice has got high potentiality
to generate
119
employment,
but
no
such
scope
is
available
in
traditional practice.
i
Present performance
:
The
i
composite
gradually gaining popularity
culture
practice
in Assam.
The
.is
people
now
are convinced about the productivity and profitablity of
scientific cultivation. But, majority of the farmers not
following the
they
are
scientific guidelines properly and hence
not
getting
the
expected
production.
Even
though, average fish production so far obtained Is 1850
kg/ha/year under scientific cultivation. However, seme
farmers are occassionally able to obtain above 3000kg/ha
/year. With proper
implementation
of
composite
culture
practice the production will be increased at least 5 to
6
tonne
per
scientific
hectare.
guideline
People
to
are
some
lately
extent
accepting
for
better
production.
i
Governmental incentives
For
the
:
development
Government how provides incentives
timely supply of quality seed,
of-
fishery
sector
in different form like
financial assistance in
the form of subsidy,loan, supply of chemicals to control
diseases, technical guidance and training etc.
Supply of seed
:
Insufficient
and
untimely
supply
of
quality fish seed is a major constraint resulting in low
production of fish in Assam. So, Government
initiative
to
supply
quality
seed
has
timely
taken
at
a
comparatively low price. Government
produces and provides
fish seed at a price of Rs. 70/- per thousand against the
average price of Rs. 250/- per thousand of the imported
seed.
120
Financial assistant
:
Finance is the most important of all the
factors
effecting
the
development
of
pisciculture
in
Assam as most of the fisherman and fish culturists are
poor. So, Government today provides financial assistance
in
the
form
of
subsidy
and
loan
in
easy
terms
and
conditions to the fish
farmers. For the wide expansion
of
practice,
composite
culture
Government
provides
subsidy to the fish farmers at the rate of Rs. 12,000/per
hectare
water
reclamation
of
Besides this,
area,
the
of
pond
which
and
Rs.
Rs.
8000/-
4,000/-
Government provides
for
for
financial
the
input.
assistance
for the development of various fields of fishery sector,
for example,
A
incentive
sum
of
Rs.
to the private
5000/-
fish
is
provided
as
seed farmers to develop
the infrastructure of the farm subject
to a condition
that the water area must be above 0.5 hectare.
lb
popularise
pen
and
cage
culture
practices Government has the scheme to provide financial
assistance at the rate of Rs. 2,500/-
per unit with
a
celling of Rs. 5,000/- for two or more unit?. The size of
one unit of cage i s 5 m x 4 m x l . 5 m
2
one unit pen is 500 i .
To
convert
laying swampy land,
area,
Government
ponds,
proposed
the
fallow
beels
etc.
people
and
,
area
to
like
low
fish culture
>,a scheme of reclamation .of
such area through engagement of family
general/SC/ST
and the size of
provides
family as financial assitance.
Rs.
beneficiaries of
3,000/-
to
one
121
For
the
development
of
paddy-cum-fish
culture practice, government provides Rs. 5,000/- or 25%
of
the
total
cost
per
maximum of Rs. 5,000/".
hectare
as
subsidy
subject
to
No ceiling has been imposed on
coverage of paddy field and granted subsidy accordingly.
Technical guidance and training
:
i
The fisherman and fish culturist
of Assam
r
are
backward
and ? especially
more ■regarding
modern
scientific cultivation of fish. So, Government has been
trying
its
level
best
for
the
expansion
of
fishery
education up to the grassroot level through organisation
of training and demonstration of modern methodologies at
various places. To encourage the participants, a nominal
financial assistance at the rate . fo Rs. 9/day/head has
been given. Besides,
research
training
centre,
regular training programme at the
Government
programme
also
scientific culture.
organises
for
Moreover,
the
short
expansion
time
of
the trained persons,
the
are
entitled to loan for fish farming.
t
Supply of chemical to treat
Epizoitic Ulturative
E.US.
Syndrome (BUS)
terrorised
the
:
fish
culturist
C
in
£
Assam because of its devastating o u tbreak.To encourage
the
fish
cultivators,
chemicals like lime,
free
of
cost
to
Government
provides
different
salt, potash permenganate etc. ,at.
control
and
prevent
this
deadly
disease .
Incentives through World Food Programme(W F P )
:
Government jointly conducted project with
W'.F.P.
for
the
development
of
beel
fishery.
Through
world Food Programme project, a section of the fisherman
122
is
enjoying
some
incentives
in
the
form
of
food
and
clothe to support their economy.
Incentives through Government scheme(Tribal Sub plan,
S.C. component scheme) to uplift the backward classes
ST/SC.
:
Government provides assistance
inputs
like
duck,
fish
seed
etc.
in the form of
for
duck-cum-fish
culture specially to the tribal people to improve their
economy.
Thus under tribal
sub plan
and
schedule
Caste
component scheme Government provides assistance to SC/ST
people
for
their
economic
development
through
fish
farming.
Above
assistance
to
development
all,
the
with
Government
interested
fish
arrangement
of
renders
financial
farmers
loan
for
through
further
different
financial institutions.
Now a loan of Rs. 1,50,000/- may
be obtained
working
for
annual
hectare water area.
Assam
have
been
Thus
expenditure
fisherman
enjoying
various
and
against
fish
per
farmers
incentives
for
of
the
development of their own economy as well as the state.
Fishery Education
:
Fishery education seems to be urgent for proper
scientific
community
development
and
fish
of
the
culturist
sector.
of
Assam
Fisherman
are
neither
properly educated nor trained regarding modern scientific
cultivation
of
education,
central
Government
have
public meeting,
of
different
fish.
For
the
Expansion
Government,
organised
distribution
technologies,
as
different
of
of
well
fishery
as,
programmes
leaflets,
organisation
Television and radio broadcasting etc.
the
state
like
demonstration
of
training,
123
State
Government
established
two
training
Jaysagar(Sibasagar) and Amranga(Guwahati)
centre
at
and conducted
training programme to organised orientation programme to
keep up the resource personnel aquinted with the recent
development.
In the same way FFDA also organised short
time training programme to impart technical knowhow to
the
fish
farmers
at
convenient
places
with
their
resource personnels. Besides, demonstration of different
culture
practices
farmers
and
to
have
been
motivate
made
them
to
to
convince
adopt
the
the
new
technologies.
An acute shortage of technical personnel
has
been felt as a long hanging problem in Assam.
ameliorate
such
a
condition
a
fishery
college
To
was
established at Raha under Assam Agricultural University
to
produce
technical
person.
This
college
started
production of technical personnels and hope the problem
will
be
mitigated
shortly.
Expansion
of
fishery
education will help to grow awareness among the people and
thus
lead to
further
development
of
fishery
sector
in
Assam.
Role of Assam Agricultural University
:
Alongwith other agricultural field, Assam
Agricultural
University (AAU)ha.£l**jen trying
its
best
to
)
develop the fishery sector with research and extension
activities since early seventies. For speedy development
of
fishery
sector,
a
Fish
Research
Centre
(FRC)
was
established in 1982 to conduct different research work
properly.
124
Though
ICAR developed
technologies
were -
also suggested for Assam, but production has been found
too far
below
production,
of
the
expectation.
modification
of
To
increase
different
the
technologies
according to the condition of Assam is being made which
speaks
about
field.
So,
the
scope
of
research
FRC conducted various
prospect
research
pave the way of development properly.
in
this
project
So far,
conducted 18 research project successfully.
to
FRC has
Some major
works have been enumerated below :
1.
Seed
for
the
premonsoon
next
starts
Year:
from
In
April
Assam
which
is
the ideal time for seed recruitment. But
locally
produced
seeds
get
ready
by
August-September which becomes a problems for the
fish
farmers
technique
.
to
The
stock
density with ration
FRC
seed
evolved
at
a
a
high
feeding to keep the
size to the standard level by next year
at time.
2.
Post-flood
carp
regular
event
regular
fish
culture:
in
which
cultivation.
centre
developed
period
fish
post-flood
Assam
Flood
a
The
device
cultivation
period. Through,
this
is
a
hampered
research
of
short
during
practice
a production of 1 to 1.4 tone/hectare/6-7
months could be achieved.
3.
Integrated
carp
different
practices
duck
integrated
viz.,
and
accordi g to
Assam.
culture:
FRC
modified
fish
culture
fish-cum-pig,
fish-cum-
fish-cum-paddy
the
climatic
culture
condition
of
4.
Prevention
of
disease EUS,
some
BUS:
the research
preventive
assistance
To
control
centre
measures
of
Central
the
evolved
with
Institute
the
of
Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA).
Presently
in
several
research
schemes are
progress at the FRC viz., induced breeding of Magur
and Three-tier integrated fish farming.
The
to the
farmers
successfull
level
technologies
through
the village
ventilated
development
scheme and under the sponsorship of Tata Tea Company.
FRC also organised training programme, seminer etc. for
the development of pisciculture in Assam.
Role of fishery department
:
Fishery Department is the main agency to
carry out different development schemes proposed by the
state Government. The main objectives of the department
is to enlarge
line,
the scope of
all over
production,
is why
the
pisciculture on scientific
state.
To
enhance
the
fish
scientific cultivation is a must and that
Government
of
Assam
is
formulating
different
schemes for the introduction and expansion of various
improved
technologies
duck-cum-fish
viz.,
culture,
paddy-cum-fish culture etc.
improve
the
infrastructural
composite
fish
pig-cum-fish
culture,
culture,
Government also trying to
facilities
essential
scientific cultivationfsuch a s ,supply of quality
seed, proper training to the fish culturist,
assistance,
marketing
and
storage
through the fishery department.
for
fish
financial
facilities
etc.
126
To
popularise
modern
technologies
of
fish production, fishery department organised publicity
programmes through such media as
books and pamphlets
T.V. and Radio broadcasting exhibition etc.
To
cultivation
the
motivate
the
Government
farmers
offers
to
scientific
various
incentives
like subsidy, fish seed at cheap price,
arrangement
institution
of
loan
through
from
fishery
free training,
different
department.
financial
But Private
initiative is still limited.
The
pisciculture
Governmental
sector
fishery
position
scheme
department
with
meant
for
can
proper
improve
the
utilisation
of
development
of
fishery
through proper apprisal, which seems to be the
priority programme with the Government.
Secondly,
fund
in still larger measures are to be supplied to the poor
enterpreneurs.
In
details
of
the
next
pisciculture
chapter
a
more
exhaustive
development
with
a
reference to Kamrpu District is being provided.
special