FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Salcete farmers engaged in aquaculture activities are facing a major setback due to the unavailability of fish seeds, despite the abundant potential for fish farming in Goa. The Fisheries Department has admitted to only providing services for freshwater fish farming after the closure of the prawn hatchery in Benaulim. This has led to a situation where farmers, especially those engaged in shrimp farming, have to depend on other coastal States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu for fish seeds, resulting in exorbitant costs.
John Fernandes, a farmer from Varca, expressed his frustration at the lack of support from the government, saying, “Taking into consideration the large number of farmers engaged in shrimps farming, the government should have come up with some projects by now in order to lessen the burden on them and encourage the farmers to become self-sufficient. ”
Other farmers, like Travor Fernandes from Salcete, have shifted their focus to pearlspot (Kalundra) due to the difficulties faced in getting fish seeds. He said he has managed to breed the fish and produce seeds in his own farm, to reduce dependence on others for the seeds.
With crab farming and other aquaculture activities like mussel and shrimp farming becoming more popular in Goa, farmers are demanding that the government provide more facilities to support them. The Goa government recently announced plans to establish a sea bass nursery to increase production of Asian sea bass, commonly called ‘Chonak’, as the requirement for sea bass seeds in the State is around two lakh, annually. However, this has done little to help shrimp farmers.
Shubert Da Costa, a farmer engaged in freshwater fish farming at Mai-Tollem in Curtorim, stressed the need for the government to provide fish seeds not only for freshwater fish farming but also for other aquaculture activities. Meanwhile, Shamila Monteiro, Director of Fisheries Department, has assured that the government is working on plans to resolve the issue.
