Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The COVID pandemic may have impacted the lone fish farming activity at Vadaval, Bicholim. However, Anita Mathew, who is into fish farming, claims that despite difficulties her condition is way better than those dependent on private jobs and called upon the youth in the State to be self-employed.
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It is pertinent to note Mathew has taken up fish farming at Vadaval in Bicholim in an area spread across about five acres. The pandemic has impacted fish farming with regards to sales and non-availability of raw material.
Anita Mathew, who runs the ‘Blue Harvest Farm’ with three fish ponds said, “Initially when this project was taken up, the government helped us with subsidy for fencing and in availing fish.”
“This is integrated fish farming which was set up some six years ago. We collect the hotel waste, which is given to the pigs and the waste from the piggery is dumped in the pond. The algae formed from the waste, is provided to the fish, which are later fed to Perch (chonak). The leftover waste is sent for producing vermicompost/biogas,” Anita said.
“The pandemic has affected us in a serious way as we were not able to find labour and fish too was not in demand. We suffered a lot as there was no government help except the subsidy we received while setting up the farm. We were not able to get hotel waste as most were shut. There was no market and we were not able to sell the product,” she added.
“We are also into pineapple farming and demand that government should help us by procuring our farm produce. The Horticulture Department should help us as we are growing papayas as well which otherwise get wasted,” Anita urged.
“We are happy that during pandemic we have fed the people with fish when all the markets were shut. Despite all difficulties, we are far better than those working in private sectors, who have lost their jobs. We urge the youth to set up own business in the State,” she added.
