Fishery

Fish is the staple diet for the majority of the population of Tripura. Fish is one of the vital food items of the diet of 95 percent of Tripura's population. Fisheries also play a major role in economic development of the State. The per capita consumption of fish in the State is quite high in the country. The per capita consumtion of fish for urban areas is about 13.2 Kg and 8.3 Kg for rural areas, respectively, in the State.

The State Government's main thrust is to establish the slogan "Fish for All - All for fish - All for Fishers" in the State. Fisheries programme is undertaken for rural development aiming to generate rural employment along with the socio-economic improvement of the fisher fold of the State. Therefore, Fisheries plays an important role in Tripura.

In recent year fresh water aqua-culture has made a significant progress in the State. The sector has potential to attain self sufficiency in fish production. State Government has also given utmost importance to popularize scientific techniques to fish production through training/extension work to the farmers.

Considering the increasing demand of fish, the State Government has been given emphasis to increase the productivity of the existing water areas. Till 2009-10, Fish Farmers Development Agencies (FFDA) has brought 6926.50 hectares water area under scientific fish culture.

Perspective Plan:

The State Fisheries Department has prepared a modified perspective plan for attaining self-sufficiency in fish production in the State within 2010-2011. Under this plan, the vital scheme of area based approach for comprehensive development of fishery has been taken-up with an aim to develop at least one aquaculture village in each the Block of State. Till 2009-10, 41-such aquaculture villages have been developed as model aqua-villages in the State, which was 34 in 2008-09 and details by location is as follows.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10.

In addition to above during 2010-11 annual plan period, another such model aquaculture village would be developed in the State.

There are 110 Fisherman Co-operative Societies including one Apex Body. The State Development of Fisheries is providing technical and economic support to the less privileged societies for their proper growth in fish production. Besides, there are 1,265 SHGs are functioning on fishery activities in the State.

The members of the Fisherman Co-operative Societies are covered under the "Fisherman Accident Insurance Scheme". Moreover, housing facilities are also provided to the poor fisherman families. Till March 2010, total 1445 houses have been constructed and provided to the poor fisherman families. Besides, the financial assistance are also made to 2030 fisherman of Dumbur Reservoir area under saving - cum - relief schemes for the lean fishing period of 2009-10.

The district wise water area and production of fish excluding raw fish, let-in sun drying during 2009-10 is given below.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10.

Tripura has made considerable achievement in fish seed production. Hypophysation of both Major Carp and Chinese Carp are widely popular especially in the private sector. So far 11 numbers of hatcheries including 4 in Government Sector and remaining 7 in Private Sector have been established and their services are regularly being utilized. It is expected that another 2 such hatcheries would be functional during the annual plan period of 2010-2011. Presently, the State is surplus in Major Carp fish seed production and more than 287 millions fish seeds i.e. fingerlings have been produced during 2009-10.

Prawn Juvelilie:

The land locked State has made a mark in producing juveniles of giant fresh water prawn on commercial scale in artificial sea water. The prawn juveniles produced and being supplied to the farmers of remote areas of the State for cultivation as well as to the other North Eastern States. More emphasise has been laid for popularizing the prawn farming in the State due to its high market demand and 15 (fifteen) prawn villages has so far been developed, which are as follows.

Source: Economic Review of Tripura 2009-10.

Propagation of pabda and chitala fish:

The technology for breeding of endangered fish spices, pabda (ompak spices) has been standardized in the State and seed being cultured in farmers' pond alongwith the chitala.

Establishment of soil and water testing laboratories:

Knowledge about the soil and water quality of the aqua-culture resource is most essential for undertaking scientific fish culture. Realising the importance of such a facility, the State Fisheries Department has created 21 such soil and water testing laboratories in all 4 Districts

Fish Feed Manufacturing Plant:

Availability of good quality balanced fish feed has been a major constraint in popularisation of fish culture in the State. To over come the problem, 15 such fish feed plants have so far been established in the State for production and supply of balance fish seed. All these are in private sector under the ownership and management of 11-SHGs, 3-Co-operative Sector and 1-individual level.

Establishment of Fish Seed Analysis Laboratory:

To monitor the quality of fish feed being locally produced in the State, 3 laboratories have been established at Agartala, Udaipur and Kumarghat.

Fish culture in regrouped village and forest areas:

A programme for bringing newly created water bodies of forest areas and regrouped villages under scientific fish culture has been initiated. The concerned members of Joint Forest Management Group (JFMs) are being provided necessary training and first year inputs for fish culture.

Strengthening of post harvesting infrastructure:

The presently available post harvest facilities in the State are limited and of preliminary stage. To strengthen post harvest facilities in the State a project of Rs.90 lakhs has been sanctioned from Government of India for “Strengthening of Post Harvesting Infrastructure”. Under this programme, ice plant at Gandacherra M.S.S. Ltd. of Dhalai District has already installed, which has been handed over to Gomti Upajati MSS Ltd., 7- Mini Trucks have been supplied to Fishermen-Co-operative Societies for carrying of fish, fish seed and fishery inputs etc. Besides, 10 -new market sheds have been constructed and 9 existing market sheds have been upgraded.

Raising of Stunted fingerlings for stocking of culture ponds:

“Stunted fingerlings” are known to perform better as stocking material. The work on a rising of stunted fingerlings in government farms was initiated during 2007-08. This programme has been started amongst fish farmers of the State from the annual plan period of 2009-10.

Improvement of Brood Stock:

Genetic deterioration because of repeated inbreeding and inhibition of growth has been observed in the presently available hatchery bred seed used for fish culture. A programme for genetic improvement of brood stock has been initiated by collecting of riverine fish seed.

Concluding remarks:

Agriculture and allied sector is the backbone of the State’s economy. As the population will be increasing and would estimated to reach 38:30 lakhs by 2015, the requirement of food-grains, fruits and vegetables, milk, meat, fish, egg etc including animal feeds would also naturally be increased, substantially. If the present deficit trends of food, fruits and vegetable, fish, egg etc. continuous, the State would definitely face more deficits by 2015 due to more supply side demand.

Therefore, the State must emphasise on the effective implementation of the Perspective Plans on Agriculture/Horticulture/Animal Resources and Fishery to over come the food deficits as well as generating the employment.

The weaknesses of the State agriculture includes the low productivity, limited utilization of irrigation facilities, limited storage facilities, complete non-existence of organized retail trade especially to the fruits and vegetables, quality control as well as modern farming techniques.

The opportunities available from the favourable agro-climatic condition for horticultural crops including medical and herbs in the State, which should fully be utilised. The growing middle class of the State increases the demand for the horticultural produce both fresh and processed, which need to be tapped by the local entrepreneurs.

The adoption of modern agricultural techniques, higher quality breeds for animal husbandry and horticultural sectors as well as irrigation facilities would able to solve the rural poverty and employment to a large extent in the State. Moreover, use of better quality of seeds for higher productivity per acre in agriculture is also needed. The State may directly approach for such techniques and breeds as well as know-how suitable for the State from abroad particularly from the South-East Asian countries.

In WTO regime, some of important issues concerning the Indian farmers especially for North-East remained unresolved and therefore, there is need for sufficient protection of these farmers in North-East since entire economy and its employment are heavily depends upon the agriculture, in this regard, a new strategy for meeting these new challenges as well as opportunities especially for North-East for building productive agricultural base away from subsidy base strategy under new WTO regime is required. Moreover, it would uplift and relief the large number of poverty ridden rural jhumia, tribal families.