IMPHAL, Nov 15 ? A new research project on breeding and culturing ?giant fresh water prawns? (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) imported from West Bengal and Maharastra has made a major breakthrough in the world of pisciculture reseach works in the state. These species suited for culturing in Manipur, joint director of the fisheries, Karam Saratkumar Singh told this correspondent.
For the first time, over 50 kg of ?giant prawns? measuring around 30 cm long and weighing about 200 grams were sold in the annual fish fair-cum-fish crop competition 2004 at Imphal on Saturday. The giant prawns which draw big crowds in its debutant in the fair were sold like hot cakes despite high price.
These species have successfully been bred and cultured at various ponds after giving trainings to ten selected pisciculturists. Over 1000 numbers of fingerling species have been imported for the new research project, the Joint Director, who is also supervising the Fisheries Research and Training Centre of the Directorate said.
The research works have been going on from October 2003. There are 500 registered fish farms in the state. The prawns which were purchased at the rate of Rs 5 each with the measure around one cm have been started marketing commercially to the local breeding firms and individual fish mongers. The highly sumptuous and protein-giving prawns thrive at as low as 0.3 degree Celsius at the fisheries centres.
The joint director said that these species are sold in the markets with grades ? A grade being sold at Rs 300 to Rs 400 per kg and B grade Rs 250 to Rs 300 per kg. Pisciculture is important as 90 per cent of the population in the state is non-vegetarians. Since 1959, the scientific pisciculture was introduced in the state with the import of Indian Major Carp seed from West Bengal.
It started with the breeding of Rohu, Catla, Mrigala, Common Carp, Silver Carp, Grass Carp etc. under the mobile hypophysation programmes. Before the scientific method, the state produced 2000 metric tonne of fish per annum.
However, the state at present produces about 17,000 metric tonnes of table fish against estimated requirement of 22,000 MT per annum taking into consideration of the present population of around 24 lakh.