Fish can generate employment in North East, ICAR

Shillong, Sep 16 (UNI) The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, North Eastern Hill Region at Umiam in Meghalaya, has acquired a capacity to produce up to one crore fingerlings every year.

This was stated by ICAR (NEH) Director Dr. K M Bujarbaruah while interacting during Bharat Nirman Campaign on flagship programmes of the Central government.

Located at Umiam, 22 km from Shillong, scientists of the ICAR have worked for some time to achieve the breeding of indigenous ornamental fish species. Dr. Bujarbaruah added that at present the Council receives a demand of 15 to 20 lakh fingerlings every year.

Most of the demands had come from local entrepreneurs, but the ICAR (NEH) hopes that it will have to increase its capacity with growing demand within a few years.

Dr. Bujarbarua said the Council does not have the infrastructure to increase production of fingerlings in its premises. However, if more demands came, the ICAR was ready to meet them.

Pointing to the huge potential of fish farming in the plains and also to the increasing import of fish from outside the region, the Director said locally produced fingerlings could help in meeting the demands. Not only that, it would also create employment and generate resources within the region.

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