The provincial department of fisheries is all set to launch 'Cage Culture Cluster Development Project' worth Rs 1.475 billion to harness the potential of untapped aquatic resources of the province and increase fish production to meet the food requirement.
Sources in the department told Business Recorder on Friday that under this five-year programme 5000 farmers will be encouraged to use 'cage culture' for fish production. In first year of this programme, which is the current year, 500 farmers have been selected through balloting which will be provided 80 percent subsidy on installation of the cage. Rest of the 20 percent will be contributed by the fish farmer. A sum of Rs 133 million has also been allocated to the Department by the provincial government for the first year.
"We have already selected the 500 farmers and being intimated about their success and the methodology to avail the subsidy," said a highly placed officer in the department. The project is envisaged under the initiative of Prime Minister Programme of "National Agriculture Emergencies" to harness the untapped aquatic resources of Pakistan. The project will be sponsored by the government of Punjab in the umbrella project of ministry of national food security and research, government of Pakistan as a share of Punjab.
The cage fish culture is considered as the most efficient fish production system in the world and is successfully being practiced in Mekong river area of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and other Indo-Chinese countries. It has several advantages over other methods of culture. These cages are installed in existing water bodies, require comparatively low capital outlay and with simple technology. They are popular with farmers, extension workers and development programmes and are used as a method for producing high quality protein cheaply. Despite accounting for only 5-10% of current inland water aquaculture production, growth in this sector is very rapid. Water resources of Punjab like small and large dams, pond area of barrages and many water canals offer a great potential for cage fish culture.
Each farmer will be provided 10 or 20 cages (as per his own request). The DOF will provide financial assistance to the selected farmers which is 80% of total estimated cost of the cage or 0.240m whichever is less in the form of cage installation. The other operational and maintenance expenditure such as seed, feed and others will be made by the farmer himself.
To a question, DG Fisheries Punjab Dr Sikandar Hayyat said that the department had already carried out study on economic feasibility of cage cluster and also launched a pilot project in Chakwal area which remained successful.