NALBARI, June 21 - Though several indigenous species of fish are on the verge of extinction in Assam, a good number of fish farmers in Nalbari district are trying to popularise local varieties of fish, including mola, popularly known as �Mowa Maas�.
A total of 54 fish farmers of Nalbari district have been commercially culturing mowa fish along with other fishes.
A group of 12 fish farmers, including four women, under the Ghogabeel Samannit Meen Palak Got, have now proved that culturing of the indigenous species of fish is commercially viable.
The 12 fish farmers � Bipin Barman, Purna Barman, Dhaneswar Barman, Munindra Barman, Sada Kalita, Biroja Barman, Jamini Barman, Anjana Barman, Prayasi Barman, Abhijit Barman, Dinesh Barman and Dibyajyoti Barman � said that the mowa culture is highly beneficial for low-income fish farmers because this fish can be sold in 45 days and has more demand in the market.
The farmers said they are now getting more demand for mowa fish, especially during wedding functions and other parties.
The Nalbari fishery department has also taken up an initiative to popularise this fish farming under the World Bank-supported Assam Project on Agribusiness and Rural Transformation (APART).
APART state director Laya Madduri recently visited the fish farm of the group, and was impressed with the efforts of the fish farmers to popularise this local and common fish variety. She assured more help to the fish farmers under the APART project. The project director was accompanied by Dhrubajyoti Sarma, state nodal officer of the project.
Talking to this correspondent, district fishery officer Pratul Bezbaruah said that this was for the first time that fish farmers of Nalbari district have started commercial culture of mowa fish and have started getting the desired results.
He said fish farmers of Pub Kalakuchi area in Nalbari district have also benefited through fish culture. The district fishery department has been encouraging innovative farmers to increase fish production in the district.
