World Aquaculture Magazine - June 2021

WWW.WA S .ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2021 69 In August, four months after stocking IMC, rohu and silver carp reached around 600 g and the farmer sold all of these. In October, pabda fish reached 60-80 g and, during the season of the Bhatri Dwitiya festival, live pabda were sold for as much as US$ 13.48/kg. In November, the farmer sold the remaining pabda for US$ 9.44/kg. With this polyculture system, Saratchandra Bhowmik earned US$ 664.65 from sales of IMC from one 0.405 ha pond and US$ 23,125.97 from sales of pabda, with a net income of US$ 17,804.03 (Tables 1 and 2). Earlier even in double cropping of stocking 200 g average IMC he was able to get a maximum profit of about US$ 2,696.91. Introduction of pabda fish give him an extra six-fold profit. Sarat Chandra Bhowmik received facilitation fromCIFA, Bhubaneswar in 2019. The success was well-covered in the media, including ETV Annadata program. Successful pabda farming news was published in the leading Bengali newspapers Aajkaal, Ananada Bazar Patrika, Bartaman and Pratidin. Future Prospects Polyculture of pabda with IMC has become increasingly popular all over West Bengal. Nearby farmers are visiting and learning from news media about pabda fish farming with the unique and innovative mud-pot technique. The farmer has been instrumental in encouraging about a dozen more villagers to become fish farmers. There is more than enough demand in the local area. Along with conservation of an endangered small indigenous fish species such as pabda, an example for others in the community to followwas developed. Notes Suman Kumar Sahu, Fishery Extension Officer, Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal, 10, Birangana Block, Sahid Kshudiram nagar, PO- Hatiberia, PS- Haldia, Dist- Purba Medinipur, Pin 721657, West Bengal E-mail: mailatsahu@gmail.com ; Whatsapp +919434506729, Mobile- +918670009706 TABLE 2. Economics (US$) of polyculture of pabda with Indian major crops over an 8-mo production cycle. Assumes 90 percent survival of carps and 70 percent survival of pabda. Cultural Cost 4,638.14 Income from sale of 220 kg of rohu at US$ 1.62/kg 355.99 Income by sale of 218 kg of silver carp at US$ 1.41/kg 308.66 Total Income from IMC 663.79 Income by sale of 2450 kg pabda at US$ 9.43/kg 23,125.97 Total Income (IMC and pabda) 23,790.62 Gross Income 19,152.48 Bank interest and rent 1,348.45 Net Income 17,804.03 TABLE 1. Costs for polyculture of IMC and pabda over an 8-mo culture period (April to November). Units expressed per 100 decimal (0.405 ha). Un i t Cos t I npu t Quan t i t y Ra t e (US$) Pond clearance/repairing etc. LS LS 13.48 Mohua oil cake 5000 kg 0.28 1415.88 Lime 300 kg 0.13 40.45 Cow dung 3200 kg 0.010 32.36 Fermented product (organic juice) ingredients: GOC 360 kg 0.67 242.72 Rice dust 300 kg 0.27 80.91 Yeast 60 kg 2.02 121.36 Chite gur 360 kg 0.22 77.67 Wheat flour 180 kg 0.40 72.82 Ripe banana waste 30 kg LS 13.48 Pabda fish 50,000 0.040 2022.68 IMC advanced fingerlings Rohu (150-200 g/fish) 350 0.34 117.99 Silver carp (150-200 g/fish) 350 0.23 80.23 Fish feed (pelleted) 1000 kg 0.57 188.78 Netting, prophylactics, watch and ward and husbandry-harvesting LS LS 117.32 Total 4,638.14