All About Aquaculture in Assam and Government Subsidies Provided to Fish Farmers

The province of Assam in the northeastern region of India has a superb sub-tropical atmosphere for the expansion and improvement of fresh water fish culture in the state. Fish farming assumes a significant part in sustenance as well as in the provincial economy of the State. The state infers an amazing open door for improving the provincial economy through the improvement of small scale fish farming. Major push is required towards creating more awareness and improvement of the skill sets of the fish farmers and their farming practices so that later on they would be in a situation to extend their exercises with money made accessible locally. Fish farming using technology is new for the farmers in Assam and given proper training and accessibility to new techniques and money, fish farming is surely bliss in the region. 

Assam’s fishery resources and allocation: 

Assam is blessed with more than 2.86 lakh ha of different water resources. Different water resources include ponds, rivers, tanks, beels etc. The state also has 2 major river systems namely Brahmaputra and Barak along with their tributaries. More than 90 percent of people in Assam eat fish and the fish market is on a rise. The fisheries sector acts as a major force behind the socioeconomic development of the state. 

Fish production and related activities can create a lot of employment opportunities, specially for the rural Assam. The total number of freshwater species found in Assam is more than 200 and the fish production level of the state for the fiscal year 2016-17 stands at about 3.07 lakh MT. 

The basic horizontal expansion strategy is achieved through formation of new ponds and lakes and through recovery and redesigning of the existing ones. Then again push on vertical development is given through efficiency upgrade with selection of improved and progressed culture practices and better maintainable administration practices. 

Current condition of development and administration of resources: 

Despite the fact that the assets potential for fish creation is high, scientific fish cultivation is being rehearsed impressively in a little segment. Fisheries systems have been embraced in a portion of the beels and low-lying zones which has expanded the production to around 1600 kg/ha/Year. 

Riverine fisheries systems in the state are currently under no or very minimal intervention, however the revenue fisheries , which covers the rivers and beels are leased out to interested individual or societies; are under the supervision of Assam Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd.  

Resources and Water area: 

Fish and Seed production (Last 5 years data): 

Assam Government Schemes: States Own Priority Development Programme (SOPD): 

Major schemes under SOPD includes: 

- "MatsyaJagaran- GhareGharePukhuriGhareGhareMaach" : 

This scheme is focusing on people keen on taking up fish culture through development of new ponds in a proper area with a mission to extend fish culture region and production of more fish through scientific farming, creation of independent work opportunity and financial upliftment. 

Unit Cost and sharing pattern for the scheme: 

Nearly 400 people will be profited under the plan and around 200 tons of fish will be created every year. 

- Seed Bank Programme: Building new ponds for seed rearing (fish). 

This Programme is focusing on those cultivators that are keen on pursuing fish seed raising business through development of new raising tanks or ponds in a reasonable land with the goals of making fish seed accessible as fingerlings, extension of fish seed raising territory, financial upliftment of the rural individuals and making independent work openings. 

Unit Cost and sharing pattern for the scheme: 

Nearly 200 people will be profited under the plan and around 45 lakh fingerlings will be created every year. 

- Majuli Development Programme 

This scheme includes 2 sub schemes namely Seed Bank Programme and Fish Cum Pig Culture in the existing pond after renovation. 

Seed Bank Programme targets for an area coverage of 4 ha and expects an annual turnover of 6 lakh fingerlings which will benefit nearly 28 individuals. 

Fish Cum Pig Culture in the existing pond after renovation scheme is targeted to those farmers who have prior experience with pig husbandry. The individuals must be willing to take up this dual system of fish farming i.e. pig and fish together in the same system. The scheme specializes in the utilization of the same space in a more efficient way and also emphasizes an increase of income per unit area and reducing the cost of the overall fish farming process. 

Unit Cost and sharing pattern for the scheme: 

Nearly 25 people will be profited under the plan and around 35 MT fish and 24 MT pork will be created every year. 

- Assistance to women self help groups (SHG) for production of other value added fish products: 

In spite of the fact that locals of Assam prefer fresh fish, there is always a market for “ready to cook”items along with other fish items such as fish pickle, wafers, balls, dry fish and so on particularly for the urban territories.  

Fishery department of Assam has started this building program in collaboration with Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT), Cochi and College of Fisheries, Raha for interested ladies and groups.  

This scheme is proposed to help chosen women SHGs with the goal of strengthening women entrepreneurship in the fisheries field along with women empowerment. This scheme greatly promotes the value added fish products in the market. Nearly 15 women SHGs will be selected by the District Fishery Development Officers. 

- Training of scheme beneficiaries and farmers: 

Before availing the above mentioned schemes, most of the farmers are using old techniques in their farming. With improvement and asset usage, the fish production and the pay can be expanded to a significant degree. In order to instill a creation program on a scientific basis, building the capacity of the farmers is exceptionally fundamental. This scheme is planning on building the capacity of the farmers and the scheme recipients by implementing scientific procedures and providing guidance and knowledge. Around 450 farmers are focused under the plan.  

References:   

https://fisheriesdirector.assam.gov.in/schemes/sopd-schemes-2017-2018  

https://fisheries.assam.gov.in/schemes/schemes