Aquaculture & Fisheries

Biography

Biography: Nchumbeni Humtsoe

Abstract

Nagaland is a vibrant hill state located in the extreme north eastern end of India. Nagaland has well fisheries potential. It is endowed with rich and unique natural resources which provide immense potential for aquaculture development. Fishery Department is responsible for fishery development in the state and central programmes. With the expansion of the Department and diversification of fisheries development activities in the state Department has subsidiary establishment in all the Districts and Sub-Divisions. With vast and varied fisheries resources, fishery plays an integral part which has tremendous potential of becoming a major contributor towards the improvement of states economy providing livelihood and employment to the local populace. Special efforts have been made to promote fish culture by way of adopting semi-intensive to intensive fish culture, paddy cum fish culture, reservoir fisheries, integrated farming etc. Fisheries Department in Nagaland focuses towards achieving a level of self-sustenance in fish production through identification of weaker aspects of the resource utilization and development such as managing the rivers and reservoirs ensuring responsible fishing and sustainable fisheries, efficient application of technologies and strengthening the domestic marketing system. The Department envisages local production to about 8605 MT and in addition a bulk quantity of 3800-3850 MT fish may be supplemented from outside the state to meet the demands of fish consumption. This available fish consumption could achieve a per capita consumption of 6.23kgs only which is much below the nutritional requirement of 11kgs per capita consumption as per WHO recommendation. Thus there exists a huge demand supply gap in the state as far as the production is concerned. The average productivity levels of fish envisage to achieve from ponds, paddy cum fish culture and reservoir fisheries is 2150, 355 - 500 and 158 kgs/ha/yr respectively. Doyang reservoir, the biggest reservoir in Nagaland having a total water area of 2258 hectares is one of the main fishery assets of the state. The depth of the reservoir is about 75-80m deep and area of catchment is about 26.6 km. Reservoir covers around 17 villages. At present there are around 350-400 fisherman depending on fishing for their livelihood at Doyang reservoir. In spite of the available resources aquaculture has not made much impact in the state so far. Immediate needs and adoption of better management practices could augment the present fish production in the state.