Moyna Model to come up in Bankura

The highly-successful Moyna Model of fish cultivation has now been adopted in the district of Bankura by the State Fisheries Department.

One lakh fishlings will be released in waterbodies to create this model of fish farming. Rs 88 lakh will be spent on the project.

According to the department, fish cultivation following the Moyna Model on a 2-hectare waterbody would help in earning of Rs 40 lakh on an average. After deducting the expenses, the income would come to Rs 18 lakh. Cooperatives of fish cultivators would be formed to make it easier to take up cultivation.

Moyna Model is normally adopted for waterbodies of a minimum of 5 hectares. But due to the lack of such large waterbodies in Bankura, even 2 hectare waterbodies would be utilised.

It may be mentioned that the State Fisheries Department had adopted the Moyna Model, named after the village of Moyna in Purba Medinipur, as a flagship model in 2017. Using the model, river water is channelised to ponds for fish cultivation at a brisk pace.

Source: Bartaman

State Fisheries Dept has crossed benchmark of 1 lakh MT of exports

The State Fisheries Department has crossed the benchmark it had set for 2018 – 1 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of exports. In fact, the figure has reached 1.05 lakh MT, as of November 2018.

This was announced by the advisor to the chief minister on agriculture and allied sectors during the course of his speech at the inauguration of Bengal Fish Fest in January.

The figure is expected to touch a new high by the end of financial year 2018-19, that is, March 31, 2019.

Meanwhile, Bangla Government is on course to build one of the world’s largest quality control labs to help increase the production of shrimps.

Source: The Statesman

File Photo

Fish production on the rise in Bangla

While answering a question on fish production in the Assembly on November 22, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the overall production in the State was 17.42 lakh metric tonnes last year.

The State Fisheries Department has also prepared a roadmap for increasing the production of fishes in the next couple of years. A committee comprising seven to eight departments has been set up for the purpose. The plan is to make Bengal self-sufficient in fish production.

Under the Jal Dharo Jal Bharo Scheme, 2.5 lakh ponds have been dug to encourage pisciculture. Further, she said, initiatives have been taken to produce big fish, which take two years to grow, in 700 ponds. Unused waterbodies are being utilised for pisciculture.

A pisciculture research centre has been set up for further development of the sector. Initiatives have also been taken for production of hilsa in the state itself, she added.

Source: Millennium Post

Rare pengba fish given new lease of life by Bangla Govt

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

Image Source

Fisheries sector infrastructure improves under Trinamool

The State Fisheries Department has endeavoured to give every manner of infrastructural help to fishermen, including fish research facilities to increase yield and to experiment on newer and more profitable species.

Storage infrastructure: As part of the ‘cold chain scheme’, the department has been sanctioned money for the construction of cold storages and, through the distribution of bicycles with insulated boxes, the development of transit and terminal markets, including retail outlets. Eight cold storages and six ice plants have been constructed.

Khuti societies: The State Government provides financial aid for the development of khuti societies, that is, fish drying centres. A total of 53 khuti societies in Contai and Diamond Harbour benefit from this aid. Considering essential aspects, the aid includes money for the operation and maintenance of the khutis or fish drying centres, including wages for khuti attendants and sweepers, development of khuti infrastructure like link roads, submersible pumps, solar lights, fish-drying platforms and bamboo structures, supply of hygienic materials and small equipments, and the repair of tube-wells.

Fishing harbours and fish landing centres: Under the department, there are seven minor fishing harbours and 13 fish landing centres. The entry channel at Kakdwip Harbour has been completed. Benfish has constructed modernised fish markets in Kalyani (Nadia district), Bolpur (Birbhum district), Uluberia (Howrah district) and Gangarampur (Dakshin Dinajpur district). Five fish landing centres have been recently constructed benefiting 8,700 fishermen in Indrapur, Satyadaspur, Kantamari, Raidighi/Domkal, Kheyaghat and Namkhana in South 24 Parganas.

Hatchery accreditation: Nineteen hatcheries have been constructed to ensure production of quality fish seed, and 231 hatcheries have been accredited.

Fish markets: Ten fish markets have been constructed – fish seed markets in Sinhati (Bankura district) and Rajendrapur (North 24 Parganas), wholesale and retail fish markets in Haldibari (Cooch Behar), Bolpur (Birbhum), Kalyani (Nadia), Fuleshwar (Howrah) and Udayrampur (South 24 Parganas), Nalban International Ornamental Fish Market, Kantamari (South 24 Parganas) and Jharkhali (South 24 Parganas) markets. Besides these, the upgrading of the wholesale fish market in Howrah is in progress.

Fish research centres: The department is setting up block-level laboratory-cum-training centres for testing water and soil of water bodies to determine suitability for pisciculture. So far 308 have been built; another 25 have been sanctioned. Research on fish and fisheries is being conducted at Pailan Research Centre in South 24 Parganas. At the Fresh Water Research Centre in Kulia near Kalyani in Nadia district, research is being carried out on production of seeds of freshwater fish, including endangered species, ornamental or aquarium fish, etc. The latter has a high export value. Rural women are being trained on ornamental fishery.

Hilsa production & research: To combat the issue of the decline in the catch of hilsa over the past decade, a dedicated Hilsa Conservation and Research Centre (HCRC) has been established at Sultanpur, Diamond Harbour, in collaboration with the Norwegian research institute, Norwegian Institute of Food Fisheries and Aquaculture Research (NOFIMA).

Brackish water fishery: The Government provides substantial aid for increasing the production of fish in regions of brackish water, mainly found in the Sundarbans delta.

The above facts prove that the Trinamool Congress Government is committed to the all-round development of the fisheries sector.

State Govt looking after all aspects of fishermen’s welfare

The State Fisheries Department has taken several important measures for the welfare of fishermen, both in professional and personal aspects.

Professional welfare

Primary among the professional welfare facilities are fish transportation facilities, biometric identity cards and on-sea distress alert systems.

Fish transportation facilities: Various fish transportation facilities have been distributed by the State Government – 7,300 Jal-Hundis to inland and marine fishermen as well as among fishermen’s cooperative societies, 1,237 Matsyajans, 10,500 bicycles with insulated boxes as well as 35,000 insulated boxes.

Identity facilitation: Biometric identity cards are being issued by the Government to marine fishermen; about 2.47 lakh identity cards have already been issued. Marine fishing vessels are being registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (for mechanised boats) and the West Bengal Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1993 (for non-mechanised boats).

Distress alert: For the safety and security of fishermen, the Government has taken up a programme for the free distribution of distress alert transmitters (DAT), to be fitted on to the vessels. A total of 3,656 DATs have been distributed till now.

Mechanised boats: A total of 593 mechanised boats – 93 six-cylinder boats and 500 two-cylinder boats – have been distributed as of now, benefiting 3,430 marine fishermen.

Personal welfare

Several personal welfare initiatives have also been taken for fishermen and their families, including pension for the old, insurance schemes and dwelling units.

Old Age Pension Scheme: The Old Age Pension Scheme is a scheme meant for retired and infirm fishermen. Under this scheme, 56,500 fishermen are getting a pension of Rs 1,000 per month.

Accident insurance: Under Fishermen’s Group Personal Insurance Scheme, financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh is provided to the family members of deceased or untraceable marine fishermen, and Rs 1 lakh to those of permanently disabled marine fishermen. During financial year (FY) 2017-18, 2,21,563 fishermen were covered.

Dwelling units: 14,500 houses have been provided for fishermen and their families.

 

All these prove that the Trinamool Congress Government has given the utmost attention to the welfare of all fisher-folk in the State, ensuring help in every way possible.

Developments undertaken by the Fisheries Department in the last seven years

The State Fisheries Department has undertaken various programmes for the development of the fisheries sector across Bengal. It is leading a balanced approach by enhancing fish production and thus ensuring nutritious food for all. Simultaneously, it is looking after the sustainability of fisher-folk by ensuring the adoption of sustainable methods of fishing and fish production.

This approach has brought about considerable poverty alleviation. The Panchayats Department is also actively involved with the Fisheries Department on a few aspects.

Aquaculture: Bengal has achieved remarkable results in both the inland fishery and marine fishery sectors. During financial year (FY) 2017-18, the production of fish was 17.42 lakh metric tonnes (MT), a substantial increase over the 2010-11 figures, the last year of the Left Front rule.

Fish seeds: During 2017-18, production of fish seeds was 2,017.7 crore, again a big increase from 2010-11. Fingerlings, numbering 1,700 lakh, have been distributed in about 1.21 lakh water bodies from 2011-12 to 2017-18. Bengal also caters to a huge 40 per cent of the country’s demand for fish seeds.

Fish feed: Nutritionally balanced floating feed is being supplied free of cost since 2014-15. Till 2017-18, 27,000 metric tonnes (MT) of ­fish feed has been supplied to about 14,000 ­fish farmers.

Conservation of indigenous local ­fish: To conserve local indigenous fish species, steps have been taken to introduce indigenous fish (ie, pabda, saral punti, deshi tangra, mourala, chital, folui, etc.) in bheels, backyard water bodies, etc. Special emphasis has been given for increasing production of deshi magur.

Introduction of new species: Culture of many new species like silver pompano, nona tangra, cobia, chanos (milk fish) and marine crab has been introduced in brackish water during the last seven years. The culture of boroli is now also being attempted in the freshwater bodies of south Bengal.

Moyna Model and its replication:For augmenting the production of fish, a new model called Moyna Model was adopted during FY 2017-18. Its prime objective is the culture of mainly rohu, catla and mrigel at the rate of 12,000 kg (12 MT) per hectare per year in the seven districts of Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, Dakshin Dinajpur, North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Howrah and South 24 Parganas as well as in Kalyani Fish Farm in Baro Sagar Dighi (Nadia district).Model fish farms have been identified covering 90 hectares of water bodies, along with 113 progressive farmers.

Export:Achievements in the export sector have also been quite significant under the Trinamool Congress Government. From 61,709 MT of fish worth Rs 1,734 crore during FY 2011-12, the figures reached 1,04,762 MT worth Rs 4,455.74 crore during FY 2016-17.

 

Thus, Bengal is marching ahead towards not only self-sufficiency in fish production but substantial contribution towards exports too.

Urban ‘haat’ near Nalban from Poila Baisakh

The State Fisheries Department has decided to set up a daily market (or ‘haat’) on the field beside the lake in Nalban. This venue will be used for selling fish, meat, poultry, vegetables as well as handicrafts, to be sold by the manufacturers themselves.

The handicrafts stalls will be run by women belonging to self-help groups (SHGs). These SHGs get financial aid under the State Government’s Anandadhara Scheme, which entails making and selling handicrafts and other items.

This city haat, or market, is expected to become famous the same way the Sonajhuri Haat in Santiniketan, Mangala Haat in Howrah and the Hari Sahar Haat in Shyambazar, Kolkata, have become.

The spot is ideal for a haat as it is quite near the IT hub of Sector V, where thousands come every day to work. Already a few snacks outlets and restaurants have opened up at Nalban, including by the State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC).

 

পয়লা বৈশাখ থেকে নলবনে ঝিলের পাড়ে বসবে শহুরে হাট

 

খোদ কলকাতায় দৈনন্দিন গেরস্থালির যাবতীয় উপকরণ নিয়ে হাট বসতে চলেছে। সৌজন্যে মৎস্য দপ্তর। এখানে একদিকে মাছ-মাংস, সব্জি তো বিক্রি হবেই, অন্যদিকে হাতের কাজের বিভিন্ন সম্ভার নিয়ে হাজির হবেন প্রত্যন্ত গ্রামের শিল্পীরা। নলবনের জলাশয়ের পাড়ে খোলা মাঠে ঘুরতে ঘুরতে কেনাকাটা করবেন শহরের বাসিন্দারা।

শান্তিনিকেতনে সোনাঝুরির হাট, হাওড়ার মঙ্গলা হাট বা হরি সাহার হাটের মতো এখনও শহর থেকে রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তে ছড়িয়ে-ছিটিয়ে বহু হাট রয়েছে। কিন্তু, এর অনেকগুলিরই পুরনো ঐতিহ্য এখন অনেকটাই ম্লান। তাই এবার সেই হাটের ঐতিহ্য এবং ব্যবসায়িক গুরুত্বকে বোঝাতেই নলবনে ভেড়ির পাশে বসবে নগরায়িত হাট। মৎস্য দপ্তরের অধীনস্থ মৎস্য উন্নয়ন নিগমের পক্ষ থেকে এই হাট বসানো হচ্ছে।

নলবনের কাছেই তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি তালুক। এখানে প্রচুর মানুষ কাজ করতে আসে। সপ্তাহান্তে যদি তাঁরা জলাশয়ের পাশে একটু ‘স্ন্যাক্স’ খেতে খেতে জরুরি সমস্ত সামগ্রী পেয়ে যান, তাহলে অনেকেই হাটে আসতে চাইবেন। সেই কথাকে মাথায় রেখেই সপ্তাহান্তের বিকেলে এই হাট বসানো হবে। পয়লা বৈশাখ থেকে বসবে এই হাট।

প্রসঙ্গত, নলবনের ওই মাঠে ইতিমধ্যে একাধিক বাঙালি-কন্টিনেন্টাল খাবারের রেস্তরাঁ আগে থেকেই রয়েছে। পাশাপাশি নিগমের পক্ষ থেকে কাঁচা প্যাকেটজাত মাছ বিক্রি করা হচ্ছে। সেই সঙ্গে রান্না মাছের বিভিন্ন পদও বিক্রি করা শুরু হয়েছে। হরিণঘাটা থেকে কাঁচা মাংস সহ বিভিন্ন পদ বিক্রি করা হচ্ছে। সুফল বাংলাও ইতিমধ্যে দোকান দিয়েছে সেখানে। ফলে কাঁচা সব্জি থেকে আরও বিভিন্ন রান্নার সামগ্রী সেখানে বিক্রি করা হবে।
সেই তালিকায় এবার নতুন সংযোজন হাতের কাজের সম্ভার। আনন্দধারা প্রকল্পের অধীনে যে সমস্ত স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠী রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তে ছড়িয়ে-ছিটিয়ে রয়েছে, তাদের নলবনের হাটে আনা হবে। প্রত্যেক সপ্তাহে স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীর মহিলারা সেখানে এসে নিজেদের হাতে তৈরি বড়ি, আচার, পাঁপড় ছাড়াও হাতের কাজের বিভিন্ন ব্যাগ, শৌখিন ঘর সাজানোর জিনিস বিক্রি করতে পারবেন। এর মাধ্যমে গ্রামীণ মহিলারা যেমন নিজেদের সামগ্রী বিক্রির একটা নতুন জায়গা খুঁজে পাবেন, সেই সঙ্গে শহুরে ক্রেতারাও বিভিন্ন সামগ্রী কিনতে পারবেন নিজের হাতে দেখে নিয়ে।

সর্বোপরি জলাশয়ের পাড়ে ঘুরতে ঘুরতে একেবারে গ্রামীণ পরিবেশেই ‘হাটে’র মজা নিতে পারবেন কলকাতাবাসী।

Image Source: TripAdvisor

Bengal Fisheries Dept set to open ‘All Fish’ outlets

The State Fisheries department will open its food stall “All fish” before the Pujas. The West Bengal Housing and Infrastructure Development Department will handover 100 hectare of water-bodies in New Town to the State Fisheries Department Corporation.

A space in Eco Park’s Heliconia garden will also be given to SFDC to set up its stall “All Fish.” The decision to hand over the water bodies was based upon a directive of the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that different departments should hand over water bodies to the fisheries department for fish farming at a meeting presided over by her on June 3 in the Town Hall.

Accordingly, the water bodies at Upasanashthal (8.74 hectare), water treatment plant (30 hectare), Eco Urban village (15 hectare), SWM area (30 hectare), Diler bheri (17 hectare) were identified to be handed over to SFDC on a 50: 50 profit sharing basis after a moratorium of one year.

The SFDC would try to open the “All fish” stall in Eco Park by October 2.  HIDCO would source its fish requirements for Café Ekante from SFDC as much as possible. SFDC already runs a stall in Nalban. The All Fish stall will be a star attraction at Prakriti Tirtha as the tourists from other states and countries would love to taste the various preparations of fish, staple to Bengali cuisine.

As the “All fish” stall will be opened before the Pujas it is likely to grab attention. A similar stall is also being opened opposite Nabanna, the State Secretariat.

 

মৎস্যপ্রেমী বাঙালির রসনা তৃপ্তিতে রাজ্যের নতুন উদ্যোগ

রাজ্য মৎস্য বিভাগ পুজোর আগেই সব জায়গায় মাছের দোকান খুলবে যেখানে সব রকম মাছ পাওয়া যাবে। রাজ্যের স্বরাষ্ট্র ও ইনফ্রাস্ট্রাকচার ডেভেলপমেন্ট ডিপার্টমেন্ট প্রায় ১০০ হেক্টর জলাশয় রাজ্য মৎস্য দপ্তরকে দিয়েছে।

ইকো পার্কের হেলিকনিয়া গার্ডেন SFDC -কে একটি জায়গা দেবে এই স্টল তৈরি করার জন্য। মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নিদেশেই এই জলাশয়গুলি হস্তান্তর করা হচ্ছে। মাছ চাষ করার জন্য বিভিন্ন দপ্তরের উচিত মৎস্য বিভাগকে জলাশয় হস্তান্তর করা। এই উপলক্ষে গত ৩ জুন মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর নেতৃত্বে টাউন হলে একটি বৈঠক হয়।

উপাসনাস্থল (৮.৭৪ হেক্টর), ওয়াটার ট্রিটমেন্ট প্ল্যান্ট (৩০ হেক্টর), SWM এলাকা (৩০ হেক্টর), দিলের ভেরি (১৭ হেক্টর) এগুলি চিহ্নিত করা হয়েছে হস্তান্তর করার জন্য।

আগামী ২ অক্টোবরের মধ্যে ইকো পার্কে এই স্টল চালু করার চেষ্টা করছে SFDC। HIDCO  তার কফি হাউসের জন্য  SFDC থেকে যতটা সম্ভব মাছ সংগ্রহ করতে পারবে। ইতিমধ্যেই নলবনে একটি দোকান চালু করেছে  SFDC । রাজ্যের ও বাইরে থেকে আসা প্রকৃতি তীর্থের সব পর্যটকদের কাছে এই স্টলগুলি বেশ আকর্ষণীয় হবে। এর মাধ্যমে তারা মাছের বিভিন্ন পদের আস্বাদ গ্রহণ করতে পারবেন।

যেহেতু সব স্টল গুলিই পুজোর আগে খোলা হবে সেজন্যএর ওপর বিশেষ জোর দেওয়া হচ্ছে। একই ধরনের একটি স্টল (রাজ্য সচিবালয়) নবান্নের বিপরীতেও খোলা হবে।