The first Emoinu Fish Festival, 2023 organised by the state Fishery department at Hapta Kangjeibung, Imphal East as a part of the Emoinu Festival registered a sale of 51,362 kg of different species of fish, including 2,600 kg of homegrown Meitei Sareng.
Fish farmers of Bishnupur district contributed the highest production with 17,709 kg, followed by Imphal West district with 14,218 kg and Thoubal district with 9009 kg, a release stated.
The significant outcome of Emoinu Fish Festival 2023 is that the total proceeds accrued from the sale of fish accounted for Rs 1.30 crore which is a spectacular achievement for the fish farmers and the state Fishery department, the release stated.
Silver carp, which is not so popular in other festivities, made a strong presence in the fish mela and a total of 18,890 kg were sold, it mentioned.
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During the festival, 10,633 kg of Grass carp and 8073 kg of Catla, Rohu and Mrigal which is commonly known as Indian Major Carp were sold, it stated. Among the indigenous fish varieties, 3360 kg of Ngaton, 686 kg of Pengba and 246 kg of Khabak were sold out, it added.
The stalls where Meitei Sareng was made available to the public consequent upon the initiative of Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the State Fisheries department were thronged by thousands of consumers making a beeline for a first glance and grab an opportunity to purchase for offering to goddess Emoinu, it stated.
The hefty price fixed by the State Fisheries department did not hamper the spirit of the enthusiastic consumers, it mentioned.
Unlike the annual Fish Festivals held on the eve of Ningol Chakkouba festival in the past, this year’s Emoinu Fish Festival witnessed departmental stalls of Agriculture, Horticulture, MOMA, Forest and various start-ups catering to agro and allied products like organic black rice, ginger, turmeric, fresh seasonal vegetables, value added local fruits, beverages, etc. which provided a shopping spree and extravaganza to the visitors, it stated. The total sale proceeds recorded by the departmental and start-up stalls are around Rs 3 lakh, it added.
