Manipur: 44th fish fair-cum-fish crop competition held

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Oct. 26 (EMN): In a bid to encourage fish farmers and provide a platform to exhibit and sell fish and fish products, the 44th fish fair-cum-fish crop competition was held under the aegis of the Manipur Fishery department at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, Imphal East District on Wednesday.

Manipur Fishery minister Heikham Dingo Singh, Chairman Kongkham Robindro Singh of MANIDCO, MLA Sanasam Premchandra Singh and Fisheries Director Heisnam Balkrishna were present during the opening session of the fish fair-cum-fish crop competition.

Speaking on the occasion, Dingo Singh said that the Manipur government is focusing on production of fishes in consultation with experts from other parts of the country. The government will be able to produce 50,000 MT at present.

He said that out of the 52,000 MT of required fish for consumption, the department was able to produce 32,000 MT in 2019.

Stating that the Fishery department has been playing a big role in providing the staple diet sufficiently in the state, he said that the pilot project under the initiative of chief minister to produce Sareng (Wallago attu) has been a success. The department has produced Sareng weighing 3.5 kg which has been reared from previous year. This year, due to problems faced in procurement of fingerlings, Sareng weighing above 1kg has been produced mainly for the fair, he added.

Stating that the fish fair is organised only at the time of Ningol Chakouba festival, the minister added that the department will make arrangements to organise fish fairs during Emoinu Eratpa also.

The Minister further added that for making (fermented fish), the department is targeting to increase the yield of locally available phabou nga instead of procuring fishes from other states of the country.

Dingo Singh appealed to all stakeholders to extend support and cooperate with the department to increase fish yield in the state. He also appealed to fishermen to refrain from malpractices while catching fish.

Fishery Director H Balkrisna Singh said that the fair is organised by the department for the 44th time comprising 115 stalls with 200 fish farmers participating.

He said 28 cash rewards will be handed to the winners of the fish crop competition. He added that the department targets  to produce 1 lakh kg of indigenous fishes for the fair. For the first time, more than 3000 kg of locally produced fresh Sareng have been put up for sale in the fair this year, he further added.

Chairman of MANIDCO Kongkham Robindro Singh, MLA Sanasam Premchandra Singh, officials of Fishery department from all the districts and fish farmers attended the programme among others.­­