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Nalbari fish farmers script success story in magur culture

By RAMEN KALITA

NALBARI, May 12 - A group of young and enthusiastic fish farmers of Nalbari district under the technical guidance of Nalbari Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) have brought a lot of success in the artificial production of magur (Clarias batachus) fish a highly-valued nutritive fish species. The young fish farmers have succeded in drawing nation-wide attention in the production of seeds and the rearing of this fish species.

The Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Bhubaneswar developed the induced breeding technique of magur fish. The Nalbari KVK started imparting the training of new techniques to interested fish farmers of the district. According to CIFA sources, the production of magur seeds and it�s survival rate is very high for the Nalbari farmers compared to the other parts of the country. So the CIFA is very hopeful that the Nalbari farmers attempt to increase the population of the indigenous magur will be a successful one.

In 2014, the three farmers � Hemanta Das of Sonamati, Ratul Das of Baragra and Amal Medhi of Paikarkuchi in the district first commercially launched breeding of magur fish after completing the necessary training in this regard. As they were very interested in seed production of magur, the KVK Nalbari in collaboration with the ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar procured portable FRP magur hatchery for those farmers. As a result, a total of three FRP magur hatcheries were received from ICAR-CIFA immediately. The success scripted by these farmers attracted other fish farmers of the district for culturing magur for commercial purposes. The newcomers were also trained up for magur breeding and rearing. In 2016, five successful magur breeders were again selected for the FRP magur hatcheries that were provided by ICAR-CIFA. The success of these farmers in induced breeding and seed rearing made them more interested in magur culture in the district.

It is very good news that Nalbari district has now become a destination for magur seeds as farmers from different district of Assam like Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Sivsagar, Lakhimpur, Kamrup, Darrang, Sonitpur among others are procuring these from farmers of Nalbari district. According to the farmers, they are earning on an average two lakh rupees from the each magur hatchery selling seeds in the season. It may be mentioned here that from these breeders, 347 farmers from various parts of the State have benefited.

Talking to this correspondent, Dr Mridul Deka, programme coordinator of the KVK said that they are prioritising induced breeding and seed raising of different indigenous fish like magur, singi and kawoi etc., to enable the farmers to culture these highly-valued nutritive fish species. A specialist of fisheries of Nalbari KVK, Sonmani Bhuyan has been playing a key role in the commercial seed production of magur fish in the district.

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