AQUA-CULTURE PROGRAMMES

Village Visits and Follow up

Since the inception of Aqua culture programme it has been extended to other operational areas of Dasamanthpur, Pottangi Semiliguda, and Bonda Hills.

The Core group imparts training to the farmers on the technical know-how of starting fish culture in order to earn an additional income.

The activities undertaken in the extended areas are given in the following tables: 

Details of Village Visited & Activities Concluded in the Corresponding Period

Details of Village Visited in Semiliguda and Pottangi Block.

Pond Up-Gradation                                                                                                         TOP

To enhance the people's ideas science and technology components on aqua-culture programme has been expanded to different areas of Semiliguda, Pottangi and Dasamanthpur Blocks.  After identifying areas for digging ponds a group of farmers received training on aquaculture farming.  In the last twelve months, ponds have been gradually upgraded and maintained.  The villages were the ponds upgraded in Semiliguda areas are Ambaguda, Porja Pungar, Lenjiguda, Kadamguda, and Marua, whilst in Pottangi up-gradation work were done in Khirajhola, Maligudal Raivalsa, Jhankraguda, Sindai, Lingamguda.  Activities executed in the above villages with the assistance of the core staff are as follows:

1. Removal of weeds, grass and other harmful infect ants from the pools

2. Clearance of soil erosion from the bed of the ponds

3. Construction of temporary muddy outlet and inlet in some of-the ponds where water sources are available from a fountain

4. Application of lime and animal excreta in each ponds depending on its requirement

5. Farmers instructed to provide complimentary feeding (rice bran & oil cake powder) up to one month after stocking.

Apart from the above activities, emphasis was given to other spheres pertinent to aqua-culture up-gradation.

Carp Breeding

Indian major carp breeding was organised in the month of July.  Breeding set was experimented with cutla.. Despite taking prerequisite steps viz. breeders condition, factor, growth and other essential measures, still the breeding set remains a failure owing to climatic condition of the surrounding milieu.  In order to substitute the demands of the extension areas and as an alternative source seeds were procured from the Government Fishery Department, Jeypore.

Bound Mulberry Plantation 

In one of the production pond at the resource centre mulberry plantation was planted at one side of the embankment.  Fifty numbers of mulberry cuttings were planted to check soil erosion and strategy adopted in order to utilise the weathering leaves as fish feeds.  Fencing and other necessary methods were administered to ensure the plants survival and growth rate.  Based on the achievement emanating from this paradigm, a comprehensive strategy will be planned in the future to introduce the same technique to other ponds.

Fish Harvesting                                                                                                            TOP

Harvesting was done in Ambaguda village which is under Sadam Panchayath in Semiliguda Block.  In September 1999 about 2000 fingerlings were stocked in the pond.  Harvesting was completed in the month of April 2000.  During this period 50 kg of fishes were harvested and sold at Rs.30 per Kg.  Due to less growth all the fish in the ponds were not harvested.  In the meantime, it was suggested to the farmers that they should provide the necessary manure (cow dung) in sufficient quantity and to begin their second round of harvest in the month of November 2000.

Pond Construction - Poda Pungar

A new pond was dug by the people of Porja Pungar village.  Before executing the work several meetings have been organised with the village community.  At the same time they apprehended on technical aspects of aqua-culture farming and how the economy of fish culture hold sway over other culture.  Interestingly, even some people from the neighbouring villages mentioned that in other villages they have witnessed the benefits derived from such aqua-culture programme.  In order to make the programme a landmark all the people gave a helping hand, not withstanding gender distinction worked for twenty days to dig the pond. May 2000, they had completed the digging of the pond.  The size of the pond is 80 ft in length, 40 ft in breath and the depth is 8 ft.  They had completed Cement inlet and embankment work at the same time.  However, this year they did not stock any seeds in the pond because of seepage at the bottom (ground level).  In order to overcome such leakage it was decided that the best remedy is to increase the depth by another 3 ft and apply cow dung at the mouth of the seepage to freeze the flow of water accumulating inside the pond.  The mending work is to be done after the harvesting season.

Repairing Of Nursery And Production Pond - Resource Centre - Chemphakendha

Repairing work on nursery and production pond were carried out in the month of April and May.  It has been done by the farmers under the guidance of the field staff.  Aquatic weeds, grasses and other wastes from the ponds were removed.  Cow dung and limes were applied in the ponds.  Kerosene and detergent powder were applied to eradicate aquatic insects and to control other predators from preying the fish.  Out of the three production ponds, only one was attended and regularly provided with cow dung.  At present the other two ponds were left vacant due to perpetual seepage.  Repairing work of the two ponds' to be taken up in the future.

In 15 villages total 17 ponds were constructed for the extension of aquaculture programme.  The fingerlings will be provided by the resource Centre of Champakenda to all these ponds.  The Core team will provide the technical guidance and proper training to the new farmers.

Breeder Pond Management 

Breeder pond management is a regular process in an aqua-culture programme. 200 kg of cow dung has been applied every week.  The level of Water pH, temperature, DO and FC02 were checked and recorded in the breeder maintenance chart.  As supplementary feeding, in the month of June 20 kg of oil cakes and one bag of rice bran were applied.  Subsequently, as a result of the inadequate application of the essential provision the state of the breeders remains unsuitable for breeding.  Currently, the number of breeder stock stands at 126 in, total, consisting of four species.  Hence, in order to countermand such set back a meeting was organised with the farmers, in which they all agreed to stat work in the extended area right after the harvesting season.

New Invention and Research : Paddy Cultivation in Nursery Ponds

Paddy cultivation was taken up in two nursery ponds where seepage frequently occurred.  The size of the ponds were 200 sq.m and 100 sq.m respectively.  In these ponds they cultivated traditional paddy in the month of August 2000.  Thereafter, breeding of common carp seeds was stocked in the ponds.  No chemical manure were used in the ponds.

Laboratory Functions                                                                                                   TOP

To check the water quality from the ponds a laboratory was set up at the resource Centre.  Water samples were collected from the villages and tested at the research Centre.  After obtaining specific details of the test, information was subsequently shared with the concern farmers.  Chemical solutions such as alkaline, iodine, soluble starch, sodium sulphate and other essential reagents required for aqua-culture programmes were prepared at the laboratory.

Resource Centre Pond Management

All the 12 ponds of Resource Centre was maintained regularly by the farmers.  As weekly, cow dung provides to each pond to the required proportion.  PH, Temperature and other water parameters checked in every week and recorded in the chart at the Resource Centre.

Expansion of Breeder Pond

As the area of the present breeder pond is not so larger and for that breeders does not get maturation in time, it was decided by the farmers to extend the area both in length and breadth of the breeder pond.  The extension, work started from January '2001 and completed by February'2001. Now the area of the breeder pond is - Length -1 00 ft, Breadth - 80 ft and Depth - 12 ft.

Before starting the digging work all the breeders shifted were to another production pond.  Cow dung was provided to the breeder once in a week.  PH, temperature and other water parameters were checked every week.  Plankton checking was once in 15 days.  The average weight of present breeder of different species are as follows:

As supplementary feeding rice bran and groundnut oil mixture was provided every day two times - morning and evening.

Study on Water Quality Different Village's Pond

To know the quality as well as nutrient capacity of the pond a water study was conducted in 1 0 villages of Semiliguda and Pottangi area.  Water collected from each village was experimented at the Resource Centre Laboratory.  Later on the result was shared with the people of the concern villages.

Training Programme on Pond Management

A training programme on Pond Management was organised at the Resource Centre. 9 farmers were selected from Dasamanthpur and Pottangi area.  Duration of the training was 5 days.  Trainees were selected from 4 villages.

During the training programme farmers were given training on Management of Ponds, Culturable species, Indian major carps and exotic carp, control and eradication of aquatic weeds and predators through biological method, water quality, composite fish culture, liming, manure, supplementary feeding, growth rate of species in year, month of stocking, month of harvesting and also other necessary factors relating to fish farmers.

Details of the Trainees

Government Coordination

Constant cooperation with the Government Fishery Department of Jeypore, was maintained from the beginning of the year.  During this period, the core staff visited the fishery office several times.  Discussion was held with the Director of Fisheries Department on breeder management, hatchery maintenance and other technical aspects on aqua-culture.  Meanwhile, a bottle of ova prim (synthetic hormone) was acquired from the fishery department for breeding purpose at the resource centre.

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