The prevailing drought in state has cast its shadow on inland fishing industry. The state’s share in inland fish rearing at the national level is 4.8 per cent and 12 lakh people who depend upon this business directly or indirectly are in trouble.
Inland fishing is carried out in as many as 26,023 tanks in the state and 42 per cent of these tanks have dried up due to scant rains. As a result, fish rearers are not purchasing fingerlings and inland fish may not be available in the coming days.
It is said that fish may have to be brought from Andhra Pradesh and the cost may increase.
However, local fish farmers said that demand cannot be met completely by Andhra Pradesh. According to them, deficit rainfall will have its adverse impact on inland fishing and decrease the revenue the government earns from fingerling rearing.Bhadra reservoir, Narayanapura dam, Tungabhadra dam and the Kabini reservoir have fish-rearing centres where katla, rohu and other fingerlings are reared.
Normally, fish lay eggs from June to August. The largest fish producing centre in the state is near the Bhadra reservoir. Nearly, 60 crore fingerlings are reared here. However, the production has been hit due to deficit rainfall.
Comments
0 comment