Three Fish Farmers of Manipur Conferred with Best Farmer Award 

Newmai News Network

IMPHAL, JULY 11: Three fish farmers of Manipur have been conferred with Best Farmer Award by various fisheries institutes in recognition of their outstanding contributions towards development of fisheries in Manipur on the occasion of this year’s National Fish Farmers Day held on July 10.

Kabi Meitei Naorem of Uchiwa village, Kakching district was felicitated by ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, Kolkata with Best Fish Farmer, 2024. Rockson Kashung of Chadong village, Kamjong district was honoured as the Best Fish Farmer award by the College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura under Central Agriculture University, Imphal and ICAR – Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Uttarakhand awarded Phungkhaijai Mahung Khuiya of Kaziphung, Hungpung, Ukhrul District with Progressive Fish Farmer Award, 2024, an official statement said.

Kabi Meitei is an established fish breeder having experience and skill in breeding of indigenous fish species of Manipur which are highly prized and cherished by local populace like Ngaton, Ngakra and Ukabi (Anabas Testudineus). The State Fisheries Department has already provided him a Breeding unit under the financial assistance scheme of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, it also said.

Rockson Kashung is a progressive fish farmer from Chadong village who has popularized cage culture in the upstream water bodies of Mapithel Reservoir. Following the submergence of his native village and agricultural land due to construction of Mapithel Dam, he initiated cage culture as an alternative livelihood for displaced villagers. Presently, Rockson manages 24 units of cage culture by rearing exotic carps (grass carp, silver carp, common carp), big head, rohu, puntius sarana, etc. and generating income and employment for local people, the official statement also said.

Phungkhaijai M. Khuiya of Kaziphung village is also a progressive fish farmer who has been specializing in breeding of carp seeds at Nungsangkhong village of Ukhrul district, the official statement also said. His contribution in seed production and supply to famers from the hatchery unit established under the Blue Revolution scheme implemented by the State Fishery Department and holding of Fishing Mela, an annual gala event for propagation and popularization of fishery amongst the Tangkhul community is outstanding. Recently, he started Cold Water fishery in Ukhrul district for the first time in Manipur by culturing rare indigenous Ngara fish, which is accustomed to rivers in high altitude with cold climate, it added.

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