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Following
parameters are considered while determining the suitability of the
site for fish culture.
i)
SITE SELECTION:
Special
consideration should be given to the location. It should be located
in an area that is not subject to frequent flooding, enough
elevation, so that farm can be drained out in case of any emergency,
should have suitable texture, enough water supply, availability of
required inputs, have market road access even during the rainy
season.
a)
Soil sampling:
To
determine suitability of the site for fish culture soil samples
should be taken from the proposed site. They should be from surface
and from slightly below the depth that will represent bottom of the
ponds, i.e. If three
feet of soil are anticipated to be excavated, the soil samples
should be taken from between three and four feet deep.
A
soil sample is taken by drilling a soil auger in to the desired
depth. The soil in the head of the auger is then placed in a plastic
bag and taken to the departmental laboratory of Fisheries Research
and Training Institute for analysis. The bag should be labelled with
the farm name, the location and the depth at which the soil sample
was taken.
b)
Water Quality:
In
most areas of the Punjab province water source is either from a
Tubewell or irrigation canal. The quality of the Tubewell water
should be analyzed. For this purpose a sample should be taken
preferably in a sealed bottle and sent to the department of
Fisheries Lab. for the testing of total alkalinity, hardness, pH,
nitrogen, total dissolved solids alongwith other required
parameters.
c)
Farm Designing:
A
production pond/grow-out pond should be one acre to 2.5 acre area
with the length – breadth ratio of 2:1 whereas the size of nursery
pond should 1/4th to ½ acre and nursery area should be
1/8th of the total production area of fish farming
project.
Each
production and nursery pond should have an independent inflow as
well as outflow water structures to regulate the water level in the
pond.
d)
Manuring / Fertilization:
In new pond bottom
should be manured prior to water filling with 5000 to
6000 Kg manure per acre is required to be applied at the pond
bottom. Cowdung or poultry waste is the most desirable manure.
Similar quantity is required to be added periodically in subsequent
stages to maintain productivity of the pond through out the growth
period i.e. from March to October.
In
addition, fertilizers are also applied during the growth period on
fortnightly basis to maintain the productivity of the
farm.
Different
fertilizers require different application procedures. Manures should
be evenly spread in the pond whereas fertilizers should be dissolved
in the water and then spread on the surface of pond water in a
uniform way.
ii)
STOCKING DENSITIES:
Criteria for the
stocking of a fish
farm:
-
Stocking
be managed according the carrying capacity under a specific
management required.
-
Stocking
be executed according to the ultimate weight of fish (at the time
of harvest) and the optimum space/room required/kg fish.
-
Stocking
of fish seed be arranged taking into consideration its potential
growth rate under different aquaculture management
systems.
Recommended
Species with Percentage of stocking:
Name
of the Fish Specie
Relative Ratio
Indigenous
Thaila
(Catla catla)
10-20 %
Rohu
(Labeo rohita)
30-35 %
Mirgal
(Cirrhina mrigala)
10-15 %
Exotic
Grass
Carp (Ctenopharyngodon
idella)
15-20 %
Silver
Carp (Hypophthalmichthys
molitrix)
15-20 %
Gulfam
(Cyprinus carpio)
05-10 %
iii) YEARLY
MANAGEMENT CALENDER OF FARM EVENTS:
Month
|
Grow-out
Pond |
Nursing
Pond |
|
January
|
Dry
pond |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
February
|
Dry
pond to cracking |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
March
|
Plough
the pond bottom until smooth |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Spread
organic manure evenly on bottom
|
Prepare
for harvest of advanced fingerlings
|
|
|
Fill
the pond with water |
|
|
|
Add
inorganic fertilizers dissolve, disperse evenly
|
|
|
April
|
Transfer
advanced fingerlings from the nursery pond to the grow-out
pond |
|
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Drain,
dry pond |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
|
|
May
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Dr
bottom to cracking |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
Plough
the pond |
|
|
Monitor
growth on monthly basis |
|
|
June
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Plough
the pond until smooth |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
Spread
organic manure evenly on bottom
|
|
|
Monitor
growth |
Fill
the pond with water |
|
|
|
Add
inorganic fertilizer dissolve, disperse evenly
|
|
|
|
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
|
Stock
with fingerlings of Silver, Grass Carps
|
|
July
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
|
|
Monitor
growth |
Monitor
growth |
|
|
|
Stock
with fry of Rohu, Mori, Catla
|
|
August
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
|
|
Monitor
growth |
Monitor
growth |
|
September
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required levels
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
|
|
Monitor
growth |
Monitor
growth |
|
October
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
Apply
fertilizers at the required level
|
|
|
Monitor
growth |
Monitor
growth |
|
November
|
Maintain
water at required level |
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Initial
harvest of fish by net, to market
|
|
|
December
|
Harvest
by draining entire pond for marketing
|
Maintain
water at required level |
|
|
Drain,
dry pond |
|
III.
COST & BENEFIT ANALYSIS OF ONE HECTARE:
(WATER
SURFACE AREA) FISH
FARM
A)
COSTS
(Amount in Rupees)
1st Year
2nd Year 3rd Year
FIXED
COSTS
i)
Excavation charges
45,000 -
-
through bulldozer
upto 1.6 meter
(25% excavation &
75% embankments)
including compaction
of
dikes.
ii)
Construction of water 12,000
- -
inlet
structure with
screen
including water
supply
channel.
VARIABLE COSTS
iii) Initial
filling of
5,300
5,300
5,300
water in
the farm
in bulk
quantity.
(150 hrs. @
Rs.35/hr.)
iv) Periodical
18,400
18,400
18,400
supplementation of
water
during the year.
(2.5
hrs./day for 210 days @ Rs.35/hr.)
v) Manures,
fertilizers, 27,000 27,000
27,000
fodders and
supplementary
feed
etc.,
vi) Cost of fish
seed
4,000
4,000
4,000
vii) Maintenance of
farm 16,000
16,000
16,000
including
watch and
ward (part
time)
harvesting
& marketing
cost, farm
implements.
_____________________________________
Total
1,27,700
70,700
70,700
B)
BENEFITS:
FISH PRODUCTION/GROSS
INCOME:
Fish Production Income @
Rs.60/kg
Ist Year
-
-
2nd
Year
2,500 Kgs
Rs. 1,50,000
3rd
Year
3,000 Kgs
Rs. 1,80,000
C) CASH
FLOW STREAM
Year
Cash Outflow
Cash Inflow
Net Benefit
1st Year
1,27,700
- - 1,27,700
2nd
Year
70,700 1,50,000
+
79,300
3rd
Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
4th Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
5th Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
6th Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
7th Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
8th
Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
9th Year
70,700 1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
10th
Year
70,700
1,80,000
+ 1,09,300
B.C.R.
= 1 : 1.78
F.R.R.
= 74.58 %
NOTE:
-
The
cash flow stream for B.C.R and F.R.R has been developed on the
period of 10 years.
-
It
has been assumed that land already exists.
-
The
farm consists upon one unit.
-
The
water for farm has been purchased through any other source.
-
It
is recommended that nursery pond equal to 1/8th of the production
pond be developed for raising seed to 100-200 gm
-
Financial
analysis done @ 15% discounting factor.
-
The
management cost has not been accounted for as it would be provided
by the owner.
IV- Details of
Training Courses:
|
(a)
|
Training
programme for fish farmers on fish seed production, rearing
and transportation.
|
(3 days)
|
|
(b)
|
Training
programme in modern techniques on fish farm management.
|
(3 days)
|
|
(c)
|
Condensed
course for fish farmers. |
(6 days)
|
|
(d)
|
Pre-service courses for Assistant Director
Fisheries. |
(6 months)
|
|
(e)
|
Pre-service
courses for Assistant Warden Fisheries/ Fisheries Research
Assistant.
|
One month
|
|
(f)
|
In-service pre-promotion course for
Assistant Warden Fisheries/Fisheries Research Assistants;
Fisheries Supervisor and Fisheries Watchers. |
(4 months)
|
(g)
Refresher courses for officers (15 days) on:
-
Water quality management in fish ponds.
-
Fish nutrition and feeding.
-
Modern techniques in Aquaculture.
-
Pond engineering.
-
Fish hatchery management.
(h)
Refresher
courses for staff (15 days) on:
-
Modern techniques in Aquaculture.
-
Fish seed production and rearing techniques.
-
Fish health and disease control.
-
Water quality management.
-
Fish health and disease control.
-
Brood stock management.
-
fish farming and breeding.
(i) Training of women in spheres
of fosh food, ornamental fish culture, breeding and rearing aquaria
and net making.
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