Fish produced by the Fish Development Center in Chitwan has attracted farmers towards hatchling farming.
The office distributed 7.5 million hatchlings (fingerlings ranging from four to seven days old), 7 million fry (more than a month old), and 600,000 fingerlings (two months old) of fish during the fiscal year 2079/80. Madhav Prasad Dahal, the chief of the office, provided this information.
The office is involved in the production and distribution of hatchlings of various fish species, including Silver Carp, Bighead Carp, Grass Carp, Rohu, Naini, Bhakur, Pangasius, and Tilapia. In the previous year, the office generated revenue of NPR 45 million through the sale of fish and hatchlings, as informed by Dahal. According to him, about 500 farmers were benefited from the office’s services last year.
The office’s area of operation covers 13 districts of Bagmati Pradesh. Farmers from other provinces also avail themselves of the services provided by the office. Due to its high quality, farmers even come from districts like Nawalpur, Gorkha, Bara, and Parsa to buy hatchlings here.
The office charges 25 paisa per fry and 75 paisa per fingerling. The center has constructed 36 ponds, among which there is a pond with a capacity of 1,000 Pokharis (small ponds). Among these, there is also a pond for Mahseer fish. All other ponds serve as nursery ponds. The office also sells fish that they breed and raise. According to Dr. Ganesh Adhikari, the Chief of Fish Development, the center has been selling fish at a rate of one to two tons annually.
He mentioned that the office has focused on boosting hatchling production even more than fish sales. The center has been working towards its transformation into a center for purebred fish conservation and development. The center also provides farmers with fish-related training and consultation services.
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