Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, October 17 2024: In a move to boost fish yield in the state, Fisheries Department on Thursday released five lakh fingerlings in Loktak Lake and Takmu Lake as a part of the celebration of Loktak Day 2024.The fingerlings were released by Loktak Development Authority chairman M Asnikumar, Loktak Day Celebration Committee president H Sanayaima, and fisheries director H Balkrisna, accompanied by department officials and local fishers.
While three lakh fingerlings, including grass carp, rohu, and mrigal were released in Loktak Lake, the remaining two lakh were released in Takmu Lake.
Speaking on the occasion, H Balkrishna urged the local fishers to follow sustainable fishing, avoid illegal methods, and refrain from using nonconventional fishing equipment in order to conserve fishery resources.
The programme involving local fishers, especially women, was lauded as a major step in supporting the livelihoods of the lake-dwelling communities.
One Tongbram Nabakumar of Thanga Tongbram Leikai expressed satisfaction with the initiative, noting that the stocking programme introduced by the chief minister is increasing fish populations and improving the economic conditions of the local fishers.
"This initiative has helped address challenges of overfishing and resource depletion, as could be comprehended from noticeable rise in the fish population over the past three years," he said.
Another local fisherman named Tongbram Okendro of Thanga Khoirom Leikai, lauded the state government's efforts and called for expansion of the programme to further boost the fishery sector in Manipur.
He highlighted the economic benefits resulting from the fish stocking in Takmu Lake and urged the CM to scale up such initiatives.
It may be mentioned here that Manipur ranks fourth in India in daily fish consumption, with 19.70 per cent, after Kerala, Goa, and West Bengal.
The state's fish production has been increasing steadily in the last five years through implementation of various schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and the Loktak Livelihood Mission.
These initiatives have reclaimed thousands of hectares of land for fish farming, introduced modern fish culture practices, and provided support through hatcheries, input supply, and financial linkages.
In 2020-21, the state's fish production reached 34,000 metric tonnes per annum, still short of the annual consumption requirement of 52,000 metric tonnes.
The state spends around Rs 40 crore annually to import fish, but ongoing efforts by the state and Central governments are gradually bridging the gap, leading to improvement in both fish production and productivity.