SHILLONG: The state government has extended the ban on sale of imported fish for another 15 days starting from Tuesday and the move is expected to help local fish farmers do brisk business.
Additional Chief Secretary PW Ingty said on Monday that after formalin was recently detected in fishes in Assam and Ri Bhoi, the state government has decided to extend the ban.
“Moreover, 20 samples were recently tested and found positive in Ri Bhoi,” he added.
The Fisheries Department will bring to markets local fishes raised by farmers in all the community and rural development blocks. In fact, it has selected the premises of the State Central Library for fish farmers from different blocks to sell their produce.
Fishery demonstrator BD Lamin told reporters, “The fish that you see right here are fishes from Laitkyrhong village from Mawkynrew block.”
On Monday, fish farmer Shairistar Rynjah sold silver carp for Rs 300 per kg and customers were willing to shell out the amount. By afternoon, Rynjah had sold 30kg of local fish.
“After the ban, the market for local fishes is good which is beneficial for fish farmers,” Lamin said, adding, “Rs 300 per kg is reasonable price that will cover the transportation cost and other charges.”
Rynjah said before the ban, fish was sold at Rs 100 per kg in village markets and was never sold in the city market. “The ban on imported fish has proved to be beneficial for us,” he added.
To a question, Lamin said a fish farmer sells approximately 70-80 kg in a day and the department “is trying to support the local farmers”.
“Before the ban, the fish farmers found it difficult to take it to the main market (Iew) and they could not compete with the fishes from Andhra Pradesh and Assam as they were quite cheap. Mostly, they sell in village markets at Rs 200-250. If the fish farmers are getting better opportunity, then it will boost fish production in the state,” he added.
