Manipur Fishery Minister H Dingo Singh on Monday said that around 3,000 kg of locally reared ‘Sareng’ also known as Wallago Attu, would be made available during the 44th Fish Fair organised for Ningol Chakouba festival.
The minister made the announcement during a press conference held at his office conference hall located at the New Secretariat building, Babupara, Imphal on Monday.
Dingo said the department is aiming to put up for sale around 1 lakh kg of different varieties of fish during the 44th Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition to be held on Wednesday at Haptta Kangjeibung.
Around 200 fish farmers from 16 different districts are expected to participate in the fish fair.
Dingo said as many as155 stalls will be opened for the participants free of cost and also the traveling allowance for fish farmers will be reimbursed. Apart from common fish varieties easily available in the market, indigenous fishes like Pengba/Khabak; Ngaton; Ngahei; Ukabi (Anabus); Porom (Murrel) and Tunghanbi (Tilapia) will be up for sale during the fish fair, added Dingo.
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The fishery minister said fish production has increased considerably when compared to previous years. The department has managed to produce 1.25 lakh kg this year against the previous year’s requirement of 90,000 kgs, he said.
The minister said with the increasing number of fish farmers and the adoption of new technologies, the state can become self-sufficient in fish farming by 2025.
Director of, department of fisheries, Heisnam Balkrishna Singh said the department, for the convenience of the public, had fixed reasonable fish prices to be sold during the fish fair.
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He said during the competition the first prize winner will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh with a certificate while the second and third prize winners will be given Rs 70,000 and Rs 50,000 along with certificates respectively.
The highest producer of indigenous fish will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 20,000 while Rs 10,000 each will be given to 20 consolation prize winners.
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