Entrepreneurship is the process of designing, launching and running a business. Aquaculture is an attractive option for entrepreneurship as it is the present-day boosting sector, as day by day population is increasing and the demand for fish is also increasing. For better fish production quality seed production is essential. Quality fish seed is one of the key inputs for successful fish farming. Quality fish seed can be provided from the hatcheries. Previously hatcheries were made up of either by glass or by cement, which were very difficult to handle and move. For quality seed production, user friendly equipment made up of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) Carp Hatchery has been designed and developed by AICRP on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology Centre at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar. Due to plethora demand and paucity of availability of quality fish seed, entrepreneurship through fish seed production can give a new dimension to the aquaculture scenario. So, for this purpose fish seed production through FRP Carp Hatchery can act as a ray of hope for the future entrepreneurs.
Fish seed production has the potential for retaining population in isolated areas and for regional development also. Because of its need for unpolluted water, this sector can flourish in isolated areas. Employment in seed production sector may be small compared to the commercial fisheries, but at the community level it can enable the people of isolated areas to survive. In aquaculture sector for establishment of FRP Carp Hatchery, there is no need for a larger area of land, as it can be installed in a very small land area. So, initial cost may be comparatively low and where easy return can be done with less duration of time and break-even can be achieved with a shorter period of time. So, it can be taken as an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurship. As FRP Carp Hatchery has been commercialized since 2006, presently more than 400 sets of it have already been established in 26 states of the country. North East Hilly Region being the major user by representing more than 50 % installations, is now able to produce seed. The system is so designed that it creates the environment suitable for fish breeding of IMC (Indian Major Carps) and for medium & minor carps in the field conditions. In one run it can produce 1.0-1.2 million spawn, which in upward rearing process can produce 0.15 million fingerlings sufficient to stock 30 hectare pond area. The system has many benefits as it is portable in nature, easy to install and operate, low water consumption during fish breeding and spawn, easy to repair, less space requirement for installation, less weight and durability of more than 15 years.
Through seed production it not only develops the region, but also offers rural areas a self- sustaining "Engine of Growth". Small scale entrepreneurship, especially women SHGs can play an important role in boosting up of the domestic aquaculture production, from here the concept of Women 'aquapreneurs' has been evolved. Seed production through FRP Carp Hatchery can make people Self-reliant and which can act as a welcome step towards blue revolution. Traditional seed production in rural areas is getting transformed into entrepreneurial seed production by utilizing the improved technology of FRP Carp Hatchery.