Maha Prawn farming will be done in Gumla, Simdega and Hazaribagh Districts. | 14 Sep 2023

Why in News?

On September 13, 2023, the Fisheries Department of Jharkhand in collaboration with the Central Institute of Inland Fisheries Research (ICAR), Barrackpore, Kolkata has taken an initiative to improve the livelihood of tribal communities through Maha Prawn culture in the reservoirs of the state, under which Under the pilot project in Gumla, Simdega and Hazaribagh districts, fish farmers will be made to rear Maha Prawns.

Key Points

  • ICAR Principal Scientist AK Das told the fish farmers that Jharkhand's cage culture is number one in the entire country. Thus, now Mahajingha also has to be made number one here, for which this pilot project has been made.
  • Under the project, on September 16 and 18, 2023, two lakh seeds each will be planted in Masaria Dam and Hazaribagh of Gumla and four lakh seeds of Maha Prawn fish will be planted in Kelaghagh of Simdega. After this, a state level meeting will be held in Ranchi on 20th September.
  • The pilot project started to promote the people of ST-SC category of the state in the field of fisheries, especially in Maha Prawn farming, which will prove to be a milestone in the economic progress of Maha Prawn farming and farmers.
  • It is known that fish contains abundant amounts of nutrients, which are very effective in removing many types of diseases and physical weaknesses of the body, especially malnutrition. But, Maha Prawn is more effective than all those fish.
  • Also, Maha Prawn is even more expensive than other fish. This fish is sold at the rate of Rs 400-500 per kg.
  • Farmers can fulfill their dreams by rearing Maha Prawn, because Maha Prawn is more expensive than other fish. There is progress in the field of fish farming in the state. People engaged in fishing are making economic progress.
  • The state government will cooperate with the farmers in following this and after the fish is ready, the farmers will get all its benefits. It is used as food and can be sold in the market to generate economic income.