WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2016 61 Application of Lime and Turmeric Powder to Control Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS) is an OIE-listed disease of fungal origin and occurs in freshwater fishes usually during periods of low temperature and after heavy rainfall. The disease is characterized by red spots over the body and subsequent ulcers. High mortality occurs in most cultured fishes, particularly among juveniles in EUS-infected fishponds, causing economic losses to fish farmers. A technique to treat EUS-infected fish in ponds was developed by Monoranjan Dey, a fish farmer from Dighaliati village, Nagaon district, Assam. Lime and turmeric Curcuma longa powder were applied at a 10:1 ratio to fish ponds early in the morning (Figs. 1a and 1b). This prevented EUS incidence and fish mortality with a high success rate when applied prior to the onset of winter. The development of this technique was based on the farmer’s knowledge that turmeric is used as an antiseptic for wound healing in humans and animals. Initially the farmer applied turmeric only at 1 kg/ha with good results. Later, he experimented by applying a mixture of lime and turmeric powder and got better results. Kalita et al. (2004) reported the use of turmeric powder during winter in fishponds to control EUS in Assam. They also reported that ashes of hay or bamboo and branches of neem plant Azadirachta indica were also applied to fishponds by farmers in hilly districts of Assam to control EUS. In Tripura, farmers use a mixture of raw turmeric paste at 625 g/ha and banana stem juice at 12.5 L/ha area to control EUS (Das et al. (2013). These treatments were reported to be effective in controlling the disease within 15 days. Use of Bamboo Cages to Scare Predatory Birds Aquatic birds are well-known as predators of cultured fish and can cause considerable fish losses on aquaculture farms. Barriers and different frightening techniques, including mirror-like materials, are commonly used to scare away birds from fishponds. Complete enclosure of fishponds with screens or nets or partially covered Some of the innovative, cost-effective and easily implemented techniques practiced by fish farmers in Assam, India is the focus of this article. These techniques are used for controlling diseases, controlling predators, maintaining pond water quality, transporting fish seed and utilizing weedinfested water bodies. Such techniques can benefit fish farmers, especially those with small land holdings and limited financial capabilities. India is the second largest fish-producing nation in the world, contributing about 5.7 percent of global fish production. India is also a major producer of fish through aquaculture and ranks second in the world after China (Anonymous 2015a). The total fish production in the country stands at 10.07 million t, with inland sector contributing 6.57 million t and the marine sector 3.49 million t (Anonymous 2015b). A significant portion of the total inland fish production comes from aquaculture. The state of Assam, in northeastern India, is endowed with 0.28 million ha of fisheries resources and fish occupies a central place in the lives of its people. With 95 percent of the population consuming fish regularly and high export potential to neighboring states, fish farming is an important socio-economic activity, particularly in rural areas (Gogoi et al. 2015). Total fish production in the state was approximately 270 thousand t during 2013-14 (Anonymous 2015a). Innovation can be defined as the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service) or process or a new organizational method in business practices, workplace organization or external relation (OCED 2005). Farmers have developed many innovative techniques over the years that can improve their fish production. The evolution of innovative techniques is a result of field experiences of farmers or application of certain indigenous technical knowledge to tackle practical problems faced by fish farmers. What is common to these innovative techniques is that they are simple, cost-effective and easy to implement. Such methods are a boon to marginal and small-scale fish farmers with limited financial capabilities. A brief account of a few innovative techniques practiced by fish farmers in the state of Assam, India is given here. Some Innovative Techniques Practiced by Fish Farmers of Northeastern India Simanku Borah, B.K. Bhattacharjya, K.K. Sarma, Dharmendra Kumar Meena and Utpal Kumar Das (CONTINUED ON PAGE 62) FIGURE 1. Preparing a 10:1 mixture of lime and turmeric powder (a). Applying the mixture to a fish pond can help control Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome.
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