Punjab farmers take to prawns

To meet the growing demand for fresh water prawn in the country and abroad, a large number of progressive farmers in the Jalandhar, Patiala and Sangrur districts of Punjab have taken to the culture of fresh water prawns in a big way.

Most farmers are developing infertile land, which have become unfit for agriculture purposes, small village ponds and low-lying lands for fish farming. Punjab fish farmers produced over 2,230 kg of prawns this year.

"Once the production reaches the critical mass, we will start exploring the possibilities of exporting fresh water prawns," said a fish farmer.

These fish farmers are also producing ornamental fishes to meet the demand for fishes from aquarists and aquarium keepers.

"The returns are quite encouraging," said a farmer. According to state government officials, the area under fish cultivation has been progressively increasing and has gone up from 6,654 hectare to 9,032 hectare.

Fish production has increased from 5,097 kg to 6,094 kg per hectare in the state.

The production of fish from natural resources has also gone up from 58,023 tonnes to 83,650 tonnes.

Punjab has the distinction of maintaining the number one position in the country with regard to average fish production per unit area.

To supplement the efforts of fish farmers, diversify pisiculture and ensure a handsome return, the state government has decided to focus on propagating culture of fresh water prawns.

According to Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries Minister Jagmohan Singh Kang, the state government is laying special emphasis on increasing the production of fish seeds at its fish seed farms.

The state government is running fish seed farms at Hiyatnagar (Gurdaspur), Katli (Ropar), Bir Shikargah (Kapurthala), Bir Dosanjh (Nabha), Faggan Majra (Fatehgarh Sahib), Dhandua (Nawanshahar), Rajasansi (Amritsar), Hariana (Hoshiarpur), Benra (Sangrur) and five other places.

It has recently launched ornamental fish seed farm at the Katli Fish Seed farm in the Ropar district to meet the demand of ornamental fish.