COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF INDIA

S.D.Tripathi
Freshwater Aquaculture Research & Training Centre
P.O. Kausalyagang, Via Bhubaneswar-2

INTRODUCTION

Composite fish culture, which was developed at the Central Inland Fisheries Research Sub-station at Cuttack in the mid-sixties, has come a long way since its inception through the efforts of various research and extension projects of the ICAR, Central/State Governments and the agricultural universities. In the process, the newly-developed technology has been considerably updated over the years and thoroughly adapted to major agro-ecological zones obtaining in different parts of the country.

The ICAR has not only been involved in the development of the technology at the Pond Culture Division (Cuttack) of the Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute but also in testing its feasibility and economic viability at a dozen centres located in eleven states covering almost the whole expanse of the country through its All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production which was initiated as far back as 1971. The Pond Culture Division of the CIFRI at Cuttack, CIFRI/IDRC Rural Aquaculture Project, National Demonstration and Operational Research Projects, National Science Centres (KVK), the Lab-to-Land Programme and National Agricultural Research Projects are some of the other ICAR Projects which have greatly contributed to the evolution and transfer of the technology through various demonstration and training programmes.

While the Government of India took upon itself the major burden of the development of pond and tank fisheries in almost all the States through its Fish Farmers' Development Agencies and Total Aquaculture Technology Centres (TACT) and in five selected states viz Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh through the Inland Fisheries Project, the latter being funded by the International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank, the State Governments also took up the challenge and set up several demonstration centres, organised training programmes, distributed mini-kits, floated loans and modified legislation to help spread composite fish culture. The State Agricultural Universities too have been strengthening their research capabilities and building up infrastructural facilities for seed production, demonstration and training for effective technology transfer.

ALL INDIA COORDINATED RESEARCH PROJECT ON COMPOSITE FISH CULTURE & FISH SEED PRODUCTION

The All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production, initiated in 1971, in six states was soon expanded to cover eleven states within the first six years of its inception broadly covering all the major agro-ecological zones in the country (Table I). The nutrient status of almost all the ponds was low (Table II) and this provided the first opportunity to test the role of fertilization in composite fish culture. Periodic fertilization, as provided in the package, not only increased the available nitrogen and phosphorus levels considerably but also helped in maintaining them between medium to high levels. While use of nitrogenous fertilizers alone gave a higher rate of production of the order of 3642–3985 kg/ha/ months, phosphatic fertilizers resulted in slightly lower rates of production (2609–3333 kg/ha/9 months).

The role of supplementary feeding was also tested. While both feed and fertilizer resulted in an average production of 5498–7172 kg/ ha, feed alone gave 3910–3971 kg/ha, fertilizers alone 1824–2213 kg/ha as against 1422–1665 kg/ha in the control.

Various combinations and densities were tested to study the production rates with different combinations and work out optimum densities. While high production rates of about 3500 kg/ha/yr were possible with the 3-species combination of Indian major carps in ponds with an average depth of 1.5 m, higher production rates in shallower ponds

Were obtained only when 5- or 6-species combinations were used. At the Jaunpur Centre, even the 4-species combination in shallower ponds did not give good results, the yield being 2890 kg/ha as against 3991 kg/ha with the 5-species (without grass carp) and 6892 kg/ha with the 6-species combination in 9 months' rearing.

Fry instead of fingerlings could be used in prepared and wellcontrolled stock ponds without sacrificing production. Densities ranging from 3000 to 10000/ha were used and 4000–5000/ha without replenishment and 8000/ha with water replenishment were found to be optimum.

Of the various species proportions, higher percentage of exotic carps (70%) resulted in higher yield rates as the Indian carps are comparatively slow-growing. The reduction in rearing period from one year to 8–9 months thus excluding winters in the northern plains helped in increasing the yield rates as not only the fish did not grow but lost weight during November/December to February/March.

Very high yield rates of the order of 8000 kg/ha/9 months to 10 000 kg/ha/yr were registered with facilities for water replenishment while 3500–7500 kg/ha/yr were achieved in undrainable ponds under different ecological conditions and management measures. The laterite, red loam and red and yellow soils were comparatively less productive (3500–4500 kg/ha/yr) than gray and brown, alluvial and medium black soils (4200–7300 kg/ha/yr).

CIFRI/IDRC RURAL AQUACULTURE PROJECT

The CIFRI, in collaboration with International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, operated a project on transfer of technology in 41 villages involving 111 farmers and 11 institutions in 6 districts of West Bengal and 32 villages involving 17 farmers and 15 institutions in 5 districts of Orissa by organising result demonstrations on various aspects of fish culture technologies. In

the process, the technology on Composite Fish Culture was subjected to operational trials in relation to limno-biological characteristics of fish ponds, species demands, input availability, economic profitability, acceptability and major constraints in its widespread adoption.

Highly acid (pH 4.4–5.4), laterite soils of Puri (Orissa) and equally acid (pH 4.5–6.0) but sandy-loam soils of Jalpaiguri and Itahar (West Bengal) gave an average production of about 3000 kg/ha/yr as against 4000–7550 kg/ha/yr from neutral to slightly alkaline but clayey-loam soils in Aska (Orissa), Hanspukur, Sanko and Gaur (West Bengal).

Involvement of several social, welfare, cultural and educational agencies such as Tagore Society of India, Lok Shiksha Mondir, Socioeconomic Development Programme (SEDP), Bratachari Sangh, Child-in-Need Institute (CINI), R.K.Mission and Rural Development Consortium (RDC) with the Project gave a further fillip to the spread of composite fish culture as the welfare workers of these agencies who were trained under the Project carried the technology to remote rural areas. The agencies also arrange inputs, loans and training for the new farmers. The CINI has been organising Mahila Mandals from 1980–81 under its Rural Development Project and training the village women in breeding and raising fish. So far 24 Mahila Mondals (Women's clubs), each comprising 20–25 trained village women, have already been registered.

AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY PROGRAMMES

The agricultural universities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh (Pant Nagar) and Punjab also took up experimental trials, demonstrations and training. High yield rates of 4660–6536 kg/ha/yr were demonstrated by the G.B. Pant University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. Use of very small ponds (0.005 ha) was made by the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, and high yield rates of the order of 2975– 4573 kg/ha shown possible in just 4½ months.

The Agricultural Universities are now establishing an increasing number of National Agricultural Research Projects, identifying priorities of each agro-ecological zone, in which fish culture has also been incorporated as a component. Further research, extension and training is envisaged under this Project in areas where fish culture is important.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA/STATE GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

With a view to providing intensive extension support to development of composite fish culture, the Government of India initiated establishment of Fish Farmers' Development Agencies (FFDA) under the chairmanship of the District Collectors from 1974–75 and by now over 100 agencies have already been established. These agencies are autonomous registered societies and, besides popularising composite fish culture, are expected to coordinate the activities of various institutional agencies engaged in inland fishery development. The Agencies are, however, doing a commendable job in that not only a large number of derelict tanks have been renovated but new pond resources developed, institutional finance provided, inputs availability increased and training of farmers organised. Though fish production in FFDA ponds is not very high in general but cases of high yield rates are on record. However, yield rates are increasing in almost all States. In Balasore (Orissa), an average investment of Rs 4096/ha gave a production 1932 kg/ha/yr in 1981–82. In Puri and Ganjam districts of Orissa, the average yield rates during the last 5 years have been of the order of 1520 kg/ha and 1800 kg/ha/yr. In Tamil Nadu, the average production is around 1000 kg/ha in 6–8 months' rearing.

In order to solve the chronic seed shortage the FFDAS have also introduced the Minikit programme which provides the fish farmers the equipment necessary for induced breeding of fish and training.

The Government of India, alive to the shortage of carp seed in general and quality seed in particular, has also sponsored a scheme on Inland Fisheries Project (IFP) with assistance from International Development Agency (IDA) of the World Bank in certain potential districts of five states viz. Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The Project envisages the production of carp seed in commercial quantities through construction of 27 modern fish seed hatcheries of 10 to 25 ha each and improvement of fish ponds. These hatcheries are partially constructed in some states and are being operated by the Fish Seed Development Corporations of each state. It is expected that at full development the annual carp production in the project area would be of the order of 200 000 tonnes/ as against 100 000 t at present.

The State Governments have also set up their own Demonstrations Centres, FFDAs and hatcheries on parallel lines with the Union Government. The scheme on 'Demonstration of intensive fish production in private tanks' in Balasore District of Orissa increased production from 100–125 kg/ha/yr under traditional culture to 1500–2375 kg/ha/yr under the new technology. In West Bengal, an average production of 4372 kg/ha/yr during 1975–76 and 4099 kg/ha/yr during 1976–77 was demonstrated as against the average traditional production of 1000 kg/ ha/yr.

OTHER ICAR PROJECTS

The ICAR has also been conducting certain other projects as the International Research Project, National Demonstration Project and, of late, the Lab-to-Land Programme. Use of large water bodies (1.48–2.15 ha) was also made for demonstration of composite fish culture and production of the order of 2654–4290 kg/ha/yr shown possible at Krishnagar (West Bengal). Yield rates varying from 5142 and 7300 kg/ ha/yr were achieved at the National Demonstration Centres in West Bengal and Orissa respectively.

The ICAR also established an organisation called the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (National Science Centre) and Trainers' Training Centre for training the farmers and extension officers respectively at Dhauli in 1977. The KVK/TTC have further helped in disseminating the technologies on carp farming through on-campus and off-campus training programmes.

On the occasion of its Golden Jubilee in 1979, the Council initiated a novel scheme called the 'Lab-to-Land Programme' to transfer the technologies developed in its research laboratories to farmers' fields. Under this programme, over 1000 farmers have undergone training and developed skill and expertise in composite fish culture. With a proper combination of the six species, proper pond preparation, periodic fertilization and regular feeding farmers have obtained yields varying from 5290–6218 kg/ha/yr.

Several other agencies such as Small Farmers' Development Agency (SFDA), Command Area Development Agency (CADA), Training of Rural Youth in Self Employment (TRYSEM) and Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) have also taken up composite fish culture as their charge and there is no gainsaying the fact that the technology is easily adaptable and a minimum yield rate of 3000 kg/ha/yr possible with a little effort and ingenuity.

R E F E R E N C E S

Barrackpore (1972). Second Workshop on All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture of Indian and Exotic Fishes. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore. 29–30 Nov., 1972 pag. var.

Barrackpore (1976), Third Workshop on All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Pune Sub-centre. 26–27 February, 1976. pag. var.

Barrackpore (1977), Potentials and problems of composite fish culture technology in West Bengal. Bull. Cent. Inl. Fish. Res. Inst., Barrackpore (25) : 11p.

Barrackpore (1978), Fourth Workshop on All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture & Fish Seed Production held at Puri. Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, FARTC, 21–22 December, 1978 pag. var.

Barrackpore (1979a), Attainments of composite fish culture demonstration centres in West Bengal during 1976–77. Bull. Cent. Inl. Fish. Res. Inst., Barrackpore(30): 12 p.

Barrackpore (1979b), Final Report CIFRI/IDRC rural aquaculture project. Cent. Inl. Fish. Res. Inst. Barrackpore. Special Report No.1 : 250 p.

Barrackpore (1981), Fifth Workshop on All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production, FARTC, Dhauli, Orissa. 19–20 January, 1981, pag. var.

Barrackpore (1982), Sixth Workshop on All India Coordinated Research Project on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production, FARTC, Dhauli, Orissa. 1–2 July, 1982. 79 p.

Mohanty, S.K., B. Ratha and B.K.Padhi (1982), A preliminary report on the case studies of fish pond development with the assistance of the Fish Farmers' Development Agency, Balasore. In. Workshop on Inland Fisheries in Orissa through institutional finance. The Fish Farmers Development Agency, Balasore: 181–89.

National Council of Applied Economic Research (1981). Evaluation of Fish Farmers' Development Agency Programme, Bharat Mudranalaya, Delhi. 92p.

Raj, B.K. and B.Jena (1982), A report in intensive fish production in demonstration tanks in Balasore district. In Workshop on development of inland fisheries in Orissa through institutional finance. The Fish Farmers' Development Agency, Balasore: 147–50.

Table I
Location of All India Coordinated Research Project Centres on Composite Fish Culture in different agro-climatic zones of India

1 The Centre was initially located on highly alkaline soil at Sunkesula Fish Farm (Soil pH : 8.6)
2 The Centre operates the projects on Composite Fish Culture and Fish Seed Production separately, hence two Centres.
3 The Centre was earlier located at Koraput
4 The Centre was located at Coimbatore from Oct. 1975 to March, 1979.

Table II

Soil and water qualities of fish ponds at various All India Coordinated Research Project Centres on Composite Fish Culture

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