The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Mangaluru will encourage people to set up fish seed production units to promote inland fisheries in the coastal belt, said Krishi Vigyan Kendra chief Dr Shivakumar Magada.
He was speaking at the Fish Farmers’ Day programme organised by the Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Fisheries College and Fisheries Department here on Wednesday.
He said there is a need to supply fingerlings depending on the demand. “The water body or ponds in the farm land will help the farmers to take up pisciculture. They require quality fish seeds to take up inland fisheries. There is no fish seed production centre in Dakshina Kannada and, as a result, the farmers have to depend on such centres outside the district,” he pointed out.
He also said farmers can earn good income through fish farming. “With continuous research, the inland fish production in India increased over a period of time. The fish production in India is 10.6 million tonne, of which 6.19 million tonne comes from inland fisheries. Compared to Karnataka, the inland fish production in Andhra Pradesh is high. The quality of soil, water and weather in Andhra Pradesh is conducive for inland fisheries. The area under fish farming is lesser in Karnataka,” he explained.
Fisheries Department Deputy Director D Kubendra Naik said that the demand for fingerlings in Karnataka is 50 crore. The Department, however, is not able to supply as per the demand, and a majority of the demand is met from the supply from Andhra Pradesh, he stated. Senior Scientist Dr B Dhananjay said that there is a need to create awareness on consumption of inland fish. Fisheries College Dean Dr K Shankar presided on the programme.