SHILLONG, Nov 11: A training programme on Biofloc fish rearing technique was organised by the State Fisheries Department in collaboration with the Dorbar Shnong of Mawlyndep in Umsning constituency. A specialised agency from Guwahati, Adventures provided a step by step training on the Biofloc fish rearing technique.
The Biofloc technology is an alternative fish farming system where recycling and reuse of waste nutrients as fish food is employed. The principal approach of BFT is to culture suitable microorganisms along with aquatic species to produce a sustainable system, benefited by the minimum or zero water exchange. The technology works on two main background: water quality maintenance, by utilisation of toxic nitrogenous compounds to form microbial protein; and increase feed conversion ratio and a decrease overall cost of production.
The initiative for this was taken by the Rangbah Shnong of the village, Jinu Kharbuki, and social worker and Advisor to the Dorbar Shnong, Damon Lyndem. The Biofloc technology is aimed at empowering the local village communities to take up fish rearing as a livelihood activity in what is essentially an area surrounded by water.
The unique selling point (USP) of Biofloc fish rearing is that fish farmers require lesser land water space while accommodating more fishes than in the conventional farming ponds thereby greatly increasing productivity. This is an eco-friendly sustainable system since nitrogen waste is efficiently converted into protein feed having double benefits of water conservation and waste management.
Since the fish are reared in a controlled environment, chances of fish disease and pathogen transfer is reduced. Probiotics present in the mixture kill the harmful microbes. Moreover, disease and pathogens of one container will not spread to other container which restricts the loss of whole culture. There is zero or limited water replacement. The microbes in the tank convert nitrogenous wastes such as nitrate and ammonia into protein feed. So, there is no requirement of water replacement.
Above all, the feed cost is reduced by 30-50 per cent due to dual positive factors of effective utilisation of feed and regeneration of lost feed. In the traditional pond rearing practice farmers cannot regain lost feed.
What makes the Biofloc technique very farmer-friendly is that it enables easy harvesting due to high stock density – meaning a lot of fish reared — within a small area.
In what can be termed as a progressive approach to village development, the Rangbah Shnong of Mawlyndep undertook to start the experiment with Biofloc technology in his own compound where two tanks have been placed for fish rearing so that it becomes a model project at his own cost.
Fish farmers and entrepreneurs from around 11 adjoining villages were also present at the training programmes.
Earlier, State Fisheries Officer, Meda Khongjuli, while addressing the gathering, said that she was very impressed that fishermen from the village were themselves guarding the fish ponds where two lakh fingerlings were placed on October 2 as part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) —a scheme to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector in India.
Khongjuli told the gathering that Tripura produces higher than the per capita consumption of fish in that state and hence is able to export the excess produce. She informed that it is imperative for a person to consume at least 11 kgs of fish per annum to get the required nutrients.
In Tripura, the consumption per person is 24 kg per annum while in Meghalaya it is only 9 kg per annum which shows a huge shortfall. She exhorted the fish farmers to take up the Biofloc fish rearing technology with all seriousness and reap the benefits.