For long, raising animals for commercial purposes has been associated with religious sentiments among people. However, over the years, many have been taking up such activities. Recently, a group of four youth in Sarpang started a fishery. They intend to generate employment and make Sarpang self-sufficient in fish.
Until the beginning of this year, some 10 acres of the government land at Tashithang under Umling Gewog remained fallow. However, four youths leased the land to start fish farming. The group constructed 24 ponds, each measuring little bigger than a volleyball court.
One of the members Tshering Dema, said the business could generate employment for youth while also reducing the import of fish.
After the initial works were completed, the group released some 60,000 fingerlings in 20 ponds, sometime in April.
It takes at least six months for the fish to mature. And if it goes as planned, the group targets to produce 40 metric tonnes of fish, annually. But the group is yet to fill up another four ponds.
“The ponds are new and take time for the water to fill up due to seepages. If we can rear fish in all the 24 ponds, we could produce enough fish, at least for the dzongkhag,” said Tshering Dema.
The group received budgetary support of Nu 1.4 M from the National Research & Development Centre of Aquaculture in Gelegphu and about Nu 300,000 from the dzongkhag administration.
The fish will be ready for harvest in November this year and for now, they target to market the product within the dzongkhag.
This is the second commercial fishery in the dzongkhag after the first one was established under Chhuzergang gewog.
Meanwhile, individual households in the dzongkhag also rear fish for self-consumption.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Chayku
