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Trout
farming: a potential source of income
 Trout fish production can play a
very important role in income enhancement of mountainous
farmers of the Northern Areas which, at the moment, has
negligible or almost no contribution.
Non-commercialization and lack of trout-farming has restricted
the economy of these farmers to their existing source of
income only i.e. agriculture (small landholding sizing 1.8-2
kanals) and livestock rearing in limited numbers which are
inadequate for the increasing population.
In order to raise the socio-economic condition of the
inhabitants living in the mountainous regions alternate
avenues of income generation are needed to be explored.
Employment opportunities and business scope are meagre as a
result there is regular migration of labour force to big
cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi etc. for earning, specially in
winters. Thus, exploration of new avenues of income generation
as a source of earning is essentially required.
Out of many sources explored i.e. tourism, gold-washing,
precious stones, medicinal plants, one of the potential areas
is trout fish production which can enhance the income
enormously. It costs Rs200/- per kg in the Northern Areas and
may rise to Rs500/- per kg in the hotels of big cities.
Years ago, trout fingerlings were brought from Srinagar to
Northern Areas in small water containers by tourists,
officials and traders and added in Astore valley lakes and
streams where its population increased enormously. Lately,
some people produced fingerlings through hatching on a limited
scale in different important lakes and Astore river and its
tributaries hence, the trout population increased in the
natural environment of Astore.
The fingerlings produced in Astore were further transported in
water containers on men's back and added in lakes and streams
and rivers of Gilgit and Ghizer districts where trout
population increased tremendously. Although authentic data is
not available, trout fingerlings and "Chinar" (tree)
plants/cuttings were reportedly transported to Northern Areas
from Srinagar during 1870-1880.
The record of Chinar is available which confirms the
transportation of trout fingerlings from Srinagar too. After
partition, a fisheries department was established headed by an
officer who could hardly manage limited activities due to
financial and trained manpower constraints.
Both, rainbow and brown trout, are available in
government-owned hatcheries, lakes like Phander, Terro,
Chakarkot and Satpara etc. and all rivers/streams of Ghizer,
Gilgit and Diamer districts except Hunza river, Indus and its
tributaries in Skardu and Ganche districts which possess
turbidity and high silt. Trout is lacking in Chilas, Darel and
Tangir in spite of the fact that the water of these areas is
also suitable for trout production.
Roughly about 15,000 Km long streams, rivers having crystal
clean water suitable for trout, are existing in the Northern
Areas. Lakes, natural ponds in high elevated areas are best
suited for trout production. The water of most of the streams,
lakes are crystal clean with no silt and turbidity and as such
these are suitable for trout farming/pond culture.
Trout-farming needs to be introduced on priority basis in
order to provide a new avenue of income generation to the
rural population who have very limited income and have no
other source of earning. Trout production is easy, profitable
and interesting too. Trout pond-culture has given pronounced
results at Juglote which needs proper management and feeding.
The pond requires cold water with maximum temperature upto 20
degree centigrade. It should be crystal clean having no
turbidity. The pond constructed should possess both inlet and
outlet to regulate continuous flow of water in order to avoid
stagnancy.
There should be sufficient fall of water to facilitate
production of oxygen in the pond water. The feed problem can
be resolved by using locally available and cheap materials in
case fish meal is costly and un-economical. Detailed studies
are needed to be conducted to develop an economical formula of
feed preparation for trout. The trout ponds must be
constructed on such land which is unsuitable for crops.
Trout population is declining fast in the Northern areas due
to many factors. Considering the need for exploring new
avenues of income generation for farmers the writer
established a big trout hatchery at Karina, Juglote, Gilgit in
1997 on self-help basis on one acre land.
The hatchery possesses a lot of mature rainbow trout for
marketing and also thousands of fingerlings are annually
produced through hatching. Rate of growth i.e. weight and size
depends upon quality and quantity of feed, environment, water
quality and management.
The basic objective of trout production or establishment of
hatcheries is to introduce trout farming/ pond culture in
communities on those lands which are not suitable for crops so
that the farmers may get additional income from commercial
production of trout.
The PARC and Northern Areas fisheries department can jointly
produce fingerlings and provide to farmers, impart training in
skill development, marketing, storage and hatching in order to
create awareness among the public about trout farming.
Concerned agencies must have qualified and trained scientists
to work closely with the communities using participatory
approach to achieve tangible results for drastic changes in
their earning scenario.
courtesy Daily Dawn, 8
April, 2002
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