To promote the culture of ornamental fish farming in the country, the National Research and Development Centre for Aquaculture (NR&DCA) in Gelephu is planning to provide hands-on training on ornamental breeding and management. This is expected to encourage people to take it up as a business to enhance their livelihood.
Many people around the world keep ornamental fish as a pet for their attractive colours, shapes, and behavior.
Gold fish is the most common ornamental fish that makes the highest population in the centre. Currently, the centre carries out breeding and aquarium construction. And it plans to produce high quality fingerlings of other ornamental fish to encourage people to take up fish farming.
“In the future, we are planning train them as a package starting from aquarium construction, aquarium keeping, then how to maintain the aquarium, breeding of ornamental fishes,” said Drukpola, program director of the centre.
Ornamental fish farming is one of the many promising job alternatives as it is easy to start and has the potential to grow well. Currently, there is only one person who has ventured into ornamental fish farming in the country.
“We could sell our fingerlings to our lone farmer who is operating business in Thimphu. During this pandemic, the import was banned from India. He had no other option than sorting to us. So, we supplied 1500 ornamental fish during these two years to him,” added Drukpola.
The centre introduced ornamental fish farming in 2012 but could not continue due to lack of fund. It was re-introduced in 2019.
Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
Edited by Sonam Pem
