Porba/Phek| November 17 : In what can be termed as a pride for fisheries department and boost for aquaculture industry in Nagaland, the villagers of Porba under Phek district still follow the forefather’s leg of observing fish festival, known as Khilüvatü/Fünyi.”
Recently, the villagers observed a grand Khilüvatü/ Fünyi 2011 here. This festival evoked deserving response from several people.
Nagaland’s fisheries director Chizu Kapfo termed the fish festival as a pride for the state’s fisheries department and announced to work as to how to promote and upgrade it. He asserted that fish festival is celebrated in all India level where the state too joined it once in Hyderabad and bagged 3rd prize.
But at home, he said he never heard about the observation of fish festival in Nagaland so far even serving in the department for the last 30 years.
The director maintained that involving in fishery related activities will help boost the economy of the rural populace.
In term of income generation, he said that one can earn Rs. 10 lakh per hectare through fishery activities.
He however regretted that the mentality of the people is that they wish to engage in all fields and unable to get specialization in one particular field.
In this, he called upon the people to identify the feasible area according to his/her capability and give full concentration on it.
Appreciating the villagers for keeping the culture and traditions alive by observing fish festival, he committed to distribute fish seedlings.
Ex-minister Zacilhü Vadeo in his speech encouraged the villagers to construct more fishery pond in the paddy fields.
He said the large scale production of fish from this village would go a long way in encouraging other neighboring villages to follow the footstep. The state’s department of fisheries aims to strengthen the state economy through aquaculture.
It aims at maximizing fish production and enhancing productivity to the level of self-sufficiency. With these objectives in view, the Department is making all effort to augment fish production by implementing a number of schemes and diversifying its activities in various areas and resources.
It said fishery is one of the key sectors of the Indian economy offering immense scope for rural uplift and development. Aquaculture industry is now one of those fast growing and most profitable industry, which is rapidly gaining due attention for to its vast scope and importance. There is immense scope for providing employment opportunities and generate higher income among fishermen by judicious management of marine fisheries and promotion of aquaculture in our inland water bodies.
The per capita consumption of fish in Nagaland comes to about 3.5 Kg, which is remarkably low as against the nutritional requirement of per capita consumption of fish at11kg, according to the department source.
Of late, the department said, there have been certain remarkable changes in the state’s fisheries scenario especially during the last plan periods wherein local farmers are coming forward to take up aquaculture practices. Certain villages/communities are taking steps to conserve their river/stream systems by their own customary law, and today we find many rivers/streams being protected under this law. The numbers of fish farmers are increasing year after year and production has increased considerably. The above given accounts goes to prove that in spite of major hurdles and constraints, the department has been able to make sufficient progress in achieving its aims and objectives and also induce the rural mass to take up fish culture practice by whatever technical assistance and guidance the department could provide with limited funds. In this regard, the department can very soon boast of bringing a revolution in fish culture in the state by way of transfer of scientific technology through extension service by fishery personnel.
The department also stated that the potential of fishery resources in the state are immense. The major potential resource attributes to the cold and riverine fisheries. It comprises of game fishes like mahseer, also known as the ‘National fish of India’ and snow trout. Ornamental fish species such as loaches, danio, barillius etc., are also added assets. But unfortunately, this fishery resource of the state is threatened due to indiscriminate and destructive fishing methods like poisoning, dynamiting, bleaching, electric fishing, and use of unregulated mesh size net. This destructive fishing method indiscriminately kills the juveniles and the brooders leading to decline in riverine fish species. Hence serious efforts from all corners should be made to conserve our riverine fishery resources.
The department also cited some approaches for conservation of aquatic flora and flora and their ecosystem.
*Deforestation and overgrazing activities along the sloppy catchments need to be checked immediately.
*Soil and water conservation measures need to be intensified.
* Enforcement of fishery legislation (Indian Fishery Act/Nagaland Fisheries Act) in streams, rivers and lakes to be effectively implemented.
*Specific gear and mesh size need to be regulated to protect the juveniles.
*Observation of closed season during breeding seasons.
*Declaration of breeding and feeding grounds of fishes as reserves/sanctuaries.
* Banning the use of poison, bleaching powder, dynamite and electric for fishing.
*Seed ranching and their protection may be maintained for the declining stocks.
*Mass awareness through extension activities and voluntary agencies about the need for conservation of fish stocks and their ecosystem.
Recently, the villagers observed a grand Khilüvatü/ Fünyi 2011 here. This festival evoked deserving response from several people.
Nagaland’s fisheries director Chizu Kapfo termed the fish festival as a pride for the state’s fisheries department and announced to work as to how to promote and upgrade it. He asserted that fish festival is celebrated in all India level where the state too joined it once in Hyderabad and bagged 3rd prize.
But at home, he said he never heard about the observation of fish festival in Nagaland so far even serving in the department for the last 30 years.
The director maintained that involving in fishery related activities will help boost the economy of the rural populace.
In term of income generation, he said that one can earn Rs. 10 lakh per hectare through fishery activities.
He however regretted that the mentality of the people is that they wish to engage in all fields and unable to get specialization in one particular field.
In this, he called upon the people to identify the feasible area according to his/her capability and give full concentration on it.
Appreciating the villagers for keeping the culture and traditions alive by observing fish festival, he committed to distribute fish seedlings.
Ex-minister Zacilhü Vadeo in his speech encouraged the villagers to construct more fishery pond in the paddy fields.
He said the large scale production of fish from this village would go a long way in encouraging other neighboring villages to follow the footstep. The state’s department of fisheries aims to strengthen the state economy through aquaculture.
It aims at maximizing fish production and enhancing productivity to the level of self-sufficiency. With these objectives in view, the Department is making all effort to augment fish production by implementing a number of schemes and diversifying its activities in various areas and resources.
It said fishery is one of the key sectors of the Indian economy offering immense scope for rural uplift and development. Aquaculture industry is now one of those fast growing and most profitable industry, which is rapidly gaining due attention for to its vast scope and importance. There is immense scope for providing employment opportunities and generate higher income among fishermen by judicious management of marine fisheries and promotion of aquaculture in our inland water bodies.
The per capita consumption of fish in Nagaland comes to about 3.5 Kg, which is remarkably low as against the nutritional requirement of per capita consumption of fish at11kg, according to the department source.
Of late, the department said, there have been certain remarkable changes in the state’s fisheries scenario especially during the last plan periods wherein local farmers are coming forward to take up aquaculture practices. Certain villages/communities are taking steps to conserve their river/stream systems by their own customary law, and today we find many rivers/streams being protected under this law. The numbers of fish farmers are increasing year after year and production has increased considerably. The above given accounts goes to prove that in spite of major hurdles and constraints, the department has been able to make sufficient progress in achieving its aims and objectives and also induce the rural mass to take up fish culture practice by whatever technical assistance and guidance the department could provide with limited funds. In this regard, the department can very soon boast of bringing a revolution in fish culture in the state by way of transfer of scientific technology through extension service by fishery personnel.
The department also stated that the potential of fishery resources in the state are immense. The major potential resource attributes to the cold and riverine fisheries. It comprises of game fishes like mahseer, also known as the ‘National fish of India’ and snow trout. Ornamental fish species such as loaches, danio, barillius etc., are also added assets. But unfortunately, this fishery resource of the state is threatened due to indiscriminate and destructive fishing methods like poisoning, dynamiting, bleaching, electric fishing, and use of unregulated mesh size net. This destructive fishing method indiscriminately kills the juveniles and the brooders leading to decline in riverine fish species. Hence serious efforts from all corners should be made to conserve our riverine fishery resources.
The department also cited some approaches for conservation of aquatic flora and flora and their ecosystem.
*Deforestation and overgrazing activities along the sloppy catchments need to be checked immediately.
*Soil and water conservation measures need to be intensified.
* Enforcement of fishery legislation (Indian Fishery Act/Nagaland Fisheries Act) in streams, rivers and lakes to be effectively implemented.
*Specific gear and mesh size need to be regulated to protect the juveniles.
*Observation of closed season during breeding seasons.
*Declaration of breeding and feeding grounds of fishes as reserves/sanctuaries.
* Banning the use of poison, bleaching powder, dynamite and electric for fishing.
*Seed ranching and their protection may be maintained for the declining stocks.
*Mass awareness through extension activities and voluntary agencies about the need for conservation of fish stocks and their ecosystem.
