Through an initiative of the State Fisheries Department, fish farmers in Haldia have started cultivating the fish, pengba. According to experts, this fish of the carp family (to which rohu, catla, silver carp, etc. belong) is very tasty and hence has a high potential.
Pengba is the State fish of Manipur. However it has become rare there for various reasons. For this reason too this is a commendable effort by the Bangla Government.
Though native to colder climates, experts have found the fish to be readily adaptable to warmer waters too, thus making it a good choice for Haldia.
Also, being part of the carp family, pengba can be cultivated in mixed-carp cultivation farms, where rohu, common carp, catla, silver carp, mrigal, etc. are cultivated, thus making it easier to rear the fish.
Source: Aajkaal