After a series of successes in induced breeding of locally grown Meitei Sareng (Wallago attu), the newly hatched Sareng fingerlings have now attained a sizeable growth of 12.7 centimetre which is equivalent to 5 inches within a period of twenty days.
Local sareng breeder, Laimujam Dinamani Singh of Tentha Khunou in Thoubal District is astonished at the rapid rate of growth the Sareng have attained, stated a release.
He said that achieving the maiden success in breeding and amazing growth rate have relieved him from the tension of the uncertainties of survival of the juvenile Sareng fish, it stated.
He also expressed that he has been always confined to his farm ponds for 24X7 overseeing the growth progress of new juvenile Sareng and preparing for the second round of breeding. The interests and monitoring activities of officials of the State Fisheries Department, particularly shown by the director, is overwhelming, he added.
Dinamani opined that he attached spiritual elements in growing and breeding of Meitei Sareng.
The rituals of breeding Sareng fish is very complicated as no success is achievable if hatchery process is taken up during the ‘Yum Mangba’, a Manipuri ritual which connotes birth or death of a dear one in the family or relative within the clan.
In fact, one should follow a strict disciplinary protocol in rearing and breeding the fish, he commented.
Dinamani dedicated his success in Sareng breeding to Chief Minister N Biren Singh for his encouragement and motivation for revival of the most prized fish in Manipur and Director of Fisheries, Manipur for his consistent moral and physical support extended from time to time, it said.