Madan Wagle

Tanahun, April 29:

Farmers in Tanahun district, who have been traditionally involved in crop farming, have now been attracted towards fish farming.

Income from fish farming happens to be four times greater than crop farming, claims a local farmer, adding that it is the reason why farmers are now attracted towards fish farming.

Some farmers have started initiating fish farming in ponds located within paddy fields, said Harka Bahadur Thapa, a local farmer in Byas municipality, claiming that he has earned twice the income since he started fish farming as well.

Another local farmer in Ghasikuwa, Dadhiraj Subedi agreed with Thapa and said that he is satisfied from the business of fish farming. Other local farmers like him are also making good money from fish farming, he claimed.

Farmers in Baradi of Aabukhaireni VDC, Rishing Ranipokhari and Majhkot VDCs are getting double advantages by fishing and planting crops in their fields, according to District Development Agricultural Office (DDAO), Tanahun.

"Our planning is to extend fish farming at Lalimphat of Dhorphidi VDC, Rishingpatan of Ranipokhari, Thurpu Service Centre, Byas municipality, Sepabagaicha, Barbhajyang and Bhanu VDC," said Bhabilal Ranabhat, technical assistant at DDAO.

Fish farming is flourishing in Tanahun district due to a good source of water and fertile soil, added Nilkantha Poudel, another technical assistant at DDAO. Fishes like common-carp, grass-carp, silver-carp, big head, ruhu, bhayakura and naini are popular in the district, he said. Common carps are said to thrive in crop fields while grass-carp is fit for ponds, according to him.

Last year, 70, 000 fishlings had been introduced in different ponds, said Bhat, adding that 15 farmers of Ghasikuwa VDC have undertaken fish farming in 19 ponds, informed the DDAO.

According to a data, fishlings had been distributed from Fishery Centre Store under the Fishery Development Programme in fiscal years 2056-57 BS. Some 50, 075 fishlings had been distributed during the fiscal year.

During 2055-56, 15 metric tonnes of fish had been produced on 5.5 hectares of land, while in 2056-57 some 12.75 metric tonnes of fish were produced in 6.5 hectares of land.

Likewise, some 12.50 metric tonnes of fish in 2058-59 and 14 metric tonnes of fish were produced in 2059-60, said the DDAO.