SHILLONG: Fisheries Minister Comingone Ymbon has said his department is taking steps to expand the paddy cum ûsh culture in the state.
“Our goal is to breed fish in the paddy fields. This system will be successful especially with the region’s weather,” Ymbon said while addressing the fish farmers in Shangpung on Saturday.
The minister was accompanied by Fisheries Secretary IR Sangma, Director AL Mawlong, Project Director West Jaintia Hills D Wahlang, BDO Laskeiñ Ferdinand Basan and officers from the fisheries directorate.
According to Ymbon, the waterlogged conditions in paddy fields make the areas ideal for breeding fish, which grow along with the paddy until harvest time.
The Fisheries Minister also stressed on the challenges that need to be addressed for the paddy-fish system to be successful.
The minister also gave away 30,000 fish seeds to the fish farmers of Shangpung area under the paddy cum ûsh culture project and released 5,000 fish seeds into the paddy plots of Lyngkein village.
Ymbon asked the farmers to adopt scientific management practices for better harvest, and advised them to remain in contact with the fisheries department for any technical guidance.
He further told the fish farmers to maintain proper records of production of fish and fingerlings and the income earned, saying such practices would help in self-assessing and analyzing the trend of growth in income.
