Scientific Aquaculture as a Means of Strengthening Livelihood in Kultali Block, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal-A Success Story

Abstract

Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) -a Central Government Scheme to promote livelihood development of scheduled caste communities was introduced at Panchuakhali and Gangadharpur villages, Kultali Block of South 24 Parganas of West Bengal, by ICAR-CIFA-a premier Institute of freshwater aquaculture research during 2019-2020. Prior to initiation of aquaculture activities, Regional Research Station of ICAR-CIFA, Rahara organized a workshop to get relevant information regarding aquaculture status of particular area as well as aquaculture knowledge among the villagers attending the workshop. A questionnaire, which was prepared in vernacular language, was circulated to 350 villagers. Among them, 147 farmers, who were enrolled as beneficiaries with support of certain legal documents such as AADHAR No., Phone No, Caste Certificate, etc., were selected to receive various aquaculture inputs to perform scientific aquaculture by the technical guidance of ICAR-CIFA, RRC, Rahara. Aquaculture inputs which comprised of fish seed, fish feed, lime, aluminium handi, and cast net were supplied to the beneficiaries in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ramkrishna Ashram, Nimpith, 24 Pargans South, West Bengal. Aquaculture inputs such as 185 kg of IMC fish seed, 10290 kg of floating fish feed, 8000 kg of lime, 147 numbers of aluminium handi and 147 numbers of cast nets were given to the beneficiaries. The fish was stocked @ 5250/ha. On an average, the farmers harvested around 215 kg fish from 0.08 ha pond, while before intervention of ICAR-CIFA's SCSP scheme, the harvested amount was 76 kg. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, monitoring of aquaculture activities in regular basis was disturbed a bit; still aquaculture production was satisfactory after 9 months of culture that corresponded to fish growth in the following ranges: Rohu (Labeo rohita), 400-600g; catla (Catla catla), 700-900g; and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), 350-450g. Before the intervention of ICAR-CIFA, the gross production was 0.95t/ha/yr. but after CIFA's intervention the gross production achieved were 3.0 t/ha/yr. Initially, the produced fish from the culture used to consume by themselves. But now they are selling the fish in the local market and by this, they could earn Rs 4.0 lakhs per hectare per year. It was observed that scientific aquaculture established in both the villages achieved nearly its goal and benefited marginal communities with economic development as well as livelihood program through SCSP Scheme. After receiving critical inputs from ICAR-CIFA and adopting scientific aquaculture, the farmers were benefitted around 2.8 times more economically.