Fish farming has turned out to be a successful business venture in Yangbari in Monggar. With 15 households engaged in fish farming, Yangbari is the only village to take up such farming in the dzongkhag.
The farming, started five years ago, has helped reduce fish imports in Yangbari.
The farmers had been hesitant to embrace fish farming initially. But now, it has turned out to be a profitable business.
Each fish farmer earns Nu 9,000, on an average, annually.
They spend some Nu 100 to buy fingerlings of common carp and grass carp.
Abundant availability of grass and banana leaves to feed the fish has made fish farming simple and convenient.
“I was able to sell more compared to last year. I sold about 45 kilograms. I usually am able to sell all my fish here. Instead of buying from Nganglam, teachers and other civil servants come to buy from me,” said a farmer from Yangbari, Leki Tshering.
Farmers say the village would have gradually become self-sufficient in fish if there were no water problem and if many people had not shied away from fish farming due to religious sentiments.
The village aims to meet the swelling demand of fish for the local population of 45 households, which currently outstrips the supply.
Some more people in the village are planning to take up fish farming.
