West Bengal farmers to bank on fish farming

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Jalpaiguri, May 4: Fish farming emerged as an important source of livelihood for farmers in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district as they turned towards the activity after taking up huge losses in the fields.

Farmers said earlier they used to suffer great deal due to the rampage caused by wild elephants, which often entered their fields from the nearby forests.

“Earlier the wild elephants used to cause tremendous rampage so we started farming artificial colored fish. The elephants do not consume the fishes and fish farming also yields positive returns. The demand is also good and has very good market in the state and in nearby countries like Nepal and Bhutan. We farm fishes like Bettle cup, Gold fish, Milkycup, etc and many other varieties,” said Ranjit Mondal, a fish farmer.

” We not only cultivate domestic fishes but also colored fishes in the area,” said Badal Rai.

Farmers also said as there are around 400 artificially created ponds in the region, so the occupation has reaped huge financial benefits to them.

The species of domestic fishes like Rahu, Katla, Bata have a major demand in the state as they constitute the major consumable food items among the masses.

The fisheries department has also assisted a great deal to the villagers to carry out and further expand the form of farming. (ANI)