Commercial fish farming is gaining popularity in Samrang Gewog under Samdrup Jongkhar district. Six households have now ventured into fish farming on a commercial scale, and it’s expected to achieve self-sufficiency of fish in the district.
Dhan Bahadur was the only farmer, from 43 households in the gewog, with a fishery pond in Samrang Gewog before. He started rearing fish in 2017. At first, he reared fish for self-consumption but with increasing demand for fish he started to sell and in the last three years he earned a profit of more than Nu 100,000.
He said he is now able to run his home comfortably from the fish business.
And with Dhan Bahadur doing a brisk business, five more villagers have also converted their land into fish ponds just three months back. The Dzongkhag Livestock Sector supported them with technical support and provided more than 7,000 fingerlings to each of them.
Dil Bdr. Pradhan from Samrang Gewog shares why he ventured into the fish farming. “Due to the coronavirus pandemic, import of meat and fish is restricted. I thought if we can produce within our country it will be beneficial for the public and as well to me. I heard that from rearing fish we can earn Nu profits of Nu 100,000 to 150,000,” he said.
However, some farmers have no idea how much profit they can make or how to take care of the fish.
“They say fishery is a profitable business and I am doing but right now we are starting only so I still don’t know how much profit I will get and moreover, I still don’t have any idea on how to feed the fish,” said Lachimi Nayaran Pradhan from the same gewog who also started a fish farming recently.
According to them, they can harvest the fish after eight months. But they are worried about the availability of water during winter.
“Right now water is sufficient but during winter season about two to three months we face water problem but if water does not dry up we may not face water problem in winter also,” said Lachimi Nayaran Pradhan.
Dil Bdr. Pradhan says with the help of sector heads, the water problem could also be solved. “Livestock and fishery officials have asked us to see a water source and they will provide us with pipes if there is a water source. And right after this area, there is some water source so I am thinking of bringing water from there,” he added.
According to Dzongkhag Livestock officials, they will make sure to provide villagers with sufficient water to rear fish, and they can also use water from fishery of Samrang Livestock Mega Farm. Moreover, livestock officials are also looking at other alternatives like harvesting rainwater or by providing water pipes and other materials to supply water.
Samdrup Jongkhar Livestock Sector has helped set up fish farming to 19 villagers in the dzongkhag after the report of COVID-19 cases in the country. And after eight months they are expecting to produce more than 20,000 kilograms of fish from the 19 new fish ponds.
Today about 120 households in Samdrup Jongkhar are into fish farming.
Kinley Wangchuk
