Until now, people in Tsirang depend either on small-scale backyard fish farms or fish imported from India. This is up for a change now. Some Seven tons of fish from Tsirang’s first mega commercial fishery farm are expected to hit the market soon.
This mega fishery farm spreads across three acres of state land along the banks of Burichhu in Sergithang gewog in Tsirang. A former civil servant Tara Bir Rai started SG Fishery Farm in 2020.
The farm has 11 ponds, each containing 5,000 to 10,000 fingerlings. There are six different fish species. Tara is expecting at least seven tons of fish from his first harvest this September.
“Monthly we have to do fingerling scaling, measurement and weigh them to see whether they are growing or not. If such growth is there, maybe in the third year around 10 to 15 tons of fish will be ready for market,” said Tara Bir Rai.
He said such fishery farms will help minimise fish imports from other countries.
“Production of fish from my farm will not even be sufficient for Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang and Punakha. We need some another 20 to 25 such farms in the country fish self-sufficiency,” added Tara.
Tara constructed the farm with over Nu 7 M. He now is optimistic about making a profit from his farm.
“In the first year, I might get around Nu 1.5 M to Nu 2 M inclusive of expenditure. In the second and the third year, I am expecting Nu 2.5 to 3 M. Experts from fishery centres said the harvest in the first year would be not that good,” he said.
According to the Livestock Census 2021, Tsirang produced over 23 metric tons of fish from small-scale backyard farms. And with this mega commercial fishery farm, fish production is expected to increase in the district.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
