Manipur Fishery department to introduce Ngakijou breeding programme

IMPHAL — After successful breeding of Sareng (Wallago attu), Manipur Fishery department is now planning for Ngakijou (Guntea loach) breeding so as to address the public demand in the market.

Director of Fisheries department, T Phulen Meitei, disclosed this while speaking at the 25th National Fish Farmers’ Day observation in Imphal on Thursday.

The function was attended by Special Secretary (Fisheries) Neeta Arambam, Controller of Examinations (Manipur Public Service Commission) Kh Lalmani, Additional Director (Fisheries) L Jayarani Devi, Joint Director (Fisheries) Hemchandra Ningthoujam, along with other officials.

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Ngakijou, an indigenous fish available in Manipur’s wetlands, is sold at INR 2000-2500 a kilogram in the market and it is not available round the year.

Asserting that the purpose of the day was not only a celebration of fish farmers but also to celebrate the various developments in the fish farming sector, Phulen said the department has fulfilled project Sareng and some of the initiatives are still in the pipeline.

It may be recalled that after former Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced to start regeneration of Sareng, a locally important fish species and most relished by the local populace on July 10, 2021, the Fisheries department took up the initiative as a pilot project under the banner Sareng Project.

He also highlighted that fish consumption is deeply ingrained in the state's culture, playing a role from birth to death, and noted that while the state currently produces 35,000 metric tons of fish annually, it falls short of the demand, which stands at 58,000 metric tons.

“The state has the potential to produce 60,000 MT of fish. But we’re importing around 20,000 MT of fish annually from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Assam,” he said and added that there is an urgent need to develop the remaining potential areas to bridge this gap.

During the event, exceptional fish farmers were recognised and awarded with cash prizes and citations. Salam Lokendro Singh from Laphupat Tera in Imphal West district took home the top honours, winning both the highest producer of fish (individual category) and highest indigenous fish producer awards.