Pisciculture

In 1950-51, India’s fish production was 7.
5 lakh tonne (5. 34 lakh tonne marine and 2. 16 lakh tonne inland). In 2006-07, the Indian fish production zoomed up to a level of around 6. 61 million tonne (considering 3. 21 million tonne of marine and 3. 4 million tonne of inland fishes), which help the country to occupy the coveted 3rd position in overall fish production in the world.
This works out to an increase of around 800 per cent in over 56 years or an average increase of 14 per cent per annum.India is also acclaimed as the second highest inland fish producing country in the world next to China with over 53 million tonne although the difference in production between the countries is enormous. The fishery sector occupies an important status in the national economy. It provides valuable foreign exchange and employment to millions of people. Among many fish farming practices, the omposite fish culture is one, which a common fish farmer can easily adopt with comparatively less investment to have more production and income than the traditional farming practice. Efforts are being made through Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project (AACP) to increase fish production rates to a level of over 4000 kg/ha/yr. than around 1200 kg/ha/yr.

as traditionally achieved. The common practice of composite culture includes 6 species of carps (3 indigenous and 3 exotic fishes) viz.Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Silver carp, Grass carp and Common carp. Generally, the species ratio is 30-40 % surface feeder; 15-20% column feeder, 40-50% bottom feeder and 5-15% macro vegetation feeder depending upon the depth and productivity status of the pond. A greater supply of irrigation water and a greater water depth required for fish culture. Especially in view of the shortage of water due to increase in human demands this will be a very serious difficulty in future.Extra investment and labour involved in raising and strengthening fields bunds.
The need for rice variety tolerant to deep water and to low temperature. Fish may damage the young seedlings by uprooting them (carps) or eating them (Tilapia rendalli). Certain parts of the field is lost for fish culture by the construction of trenches and refuges for fish. Additional costs are involved in fertilizing and feeding the fish. In certain types of soil continuous inundation may not be possible.