Manipur fish fair: CM Khemchand announces aid for freshwater shark farmers

Manipur Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh on Tuesday opened the 47th Annual Fish Fair-cum-Fish Crop Competition at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal East and announced subsidies for farmers rearing the freshwater shark, a prized catfish.

The fair is held every year just before Ningol Chakkouba, the Meitei festival when married women return to their parental homes for a feast in which fish is the centrepiece. Around 200 stalls are taking part this year.

Subsidy for freshwater shark farming

The chief minister said assistance of Rs 3-4 lakh would be given to encourage farmers cultivating the freshwater shark (Wallago attu), with the money to be released after the festival, India Today NE reported.

He said only seven farmers had first taken up the species with government support, and fish weighing 5 to 6 kg are now being produced in the state. He credited Salam Rohendro Singh, described as India's first freshwater shark insemination expert, and said demand for Manipur-bred fingerlings was now coming from farmers in Assam too. He also thanked former fisheries minister and Sekmai MLA Heikham Dingo Singh, who had travelled outside the state to source fingerlings.

Less fish from outside

Khemchand said Manipur once spent close to Rs 350 crore a year buying fish from other states, and that the bill had come down considerably after Fisheries Department interventions. Ukhrul Times reported the figure has now dropped below Rs 300 crore. He urged more farmers to join in so the state could cut imports further.

He also said Rabi seed distribution in Imphal East, Imphal West and Kakching had been brought forward so farmers could sow immediately after the Kharif harvest rather than waiting until January or February, part of a push for double cropping.

Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho spoke about the meaning of Ningol Chakkouba, describing married daughters and sisters as ambassadors of their parental families, and called for peace within families and across the state.

Prizes on offer

The competition carries Rs 2 lakh for first place, Rs 1.5 lakh for second and Rs 1 lakh for third. There is a Rs 50,000 award for the highest production of indigenous fish, and 20 farmers will get consolation prizes of Rs 20,000 each.

The Fisheries Department supports farmers through the Loktak Livelihood Mission, the National Fisheries Development Board, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the North Eastern Council.