The success of the Samagra Matsyagramam Project (integrated fish village project) has prompted the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) to commence its second phase.

The project, aimed at empowering fish farmers in Puthenvelikkara Grama Panchayat near here, has been receiving encouraging response from the farming community.

The first phase has helped preserve the indigenous fish species facing the threat of extinction, B. Madhusoodana Kurup, Vice-Chancellor, KUFOS, said while inaugurating the second phase of the project.

In addition to the existing 12 groups, he said nine more new groups having 10 members have been formed in the panchayat. Besides, seeds of fish species like Katla, Rohu, Cyprinus, shrimp and Seabass, which have been stocked in the reservoirs, lakes and ponds, were distributed.

KUFOS had initiated the project with the objective of sustainable fisheries development for rural empowerment and food security in Puthenvelikkara. The project is supported by Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and Kerala State Fisheries Department. There are also plans to extend the project in more villages in future, he said.

The cage culture, which was a success in the first phase, has also been started by stocking more than 8,000 seeds of Seabass fish into the 18 cages.

Earlier, the cage culture of Seabass had produced fish with an average weight of 1.5 kg, with a survival rate of 80 per cent. This has brought the farmers in the region a national award for the best cage farmers group in India, he added.

In order to utilise the high prospects of brackish water farming, KUFOS is also planning to launch farming of brackish water fish like mullet, milk fish and pearl-spot.

The University has introduced an environment friendly farming focussing on freshwater fish culture, brackish water fish culture, ornamental fish culture and cage culture and integrated farming utilising the resources of public and private ponds and backwaters.

>sajeevkumar.v@thehindu.co.in

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