Pisciculture on the rise in Haryana

Chandigarh, Dec 3 (UNI) Pisciculture is becoming popular in Haryana where more than 80 per cent village ponds are under fish farming and village panchayats are earning over three crore rupees per year from the lease of ponds.

The state ranks second in the country in fish production with an yield of 4,576 kg per hectare per year as against the national average of 2,260 kg, a spokesman for Haryana Fisheries Department said.

He said 10,532 hectares of pond water area was under fish culture during the financial year 2005-06 and the total fish production was 48,200 tonnes in the state.

There were 9,466 fish farmers and 21,282 persons engaged in activities related to fish farming.

This, the spokesman said, was much in contrast to only 58 hectares of pond water area which was brought under fish farming in year 1966-67 when the state came into being.

He said a number of schemes were being implemented for promotion of fish farming in the state. These schemes included imparting training and technical know-how to fish farmers, providing them financial assistance and development of fisheries in water logged area.

Financial assistance was being given for a number of activities like renovation of ponds, excavation of new ponds, construction of ponds in saline areas, fish egg hatcheries and fish egg rearing units and setting up of hatcheries for ornamental fish.

The spokesman said technical assistance was being provided by the Department to check diseases among fish.

Besides helping the farmers in preparing estimates for excavation and renovation of ponds, they were also being assisted in harvesting, transportation and marketing of fish.

UNI MA PKS RAI1207