Chitwan, July 6
Fishery experts have said that farmers may make a lot of incomes if they develop this sector commercially.
They also said that although the number of farmers involved in the fishery business has increased significantly in the country, this sector has yet to grow commercially.
Speaking at the first national convention of farmers engaged with the fishery business here in Chitwan, they said that Nepal has continued to import fish from India.
Addressing the gathering of the farmers from 21 districts of the Terai region, former director of the Fishery Development Centre Shukra Kumar Pradhan urged them to utilise their lands for fishery if water is easily available.
"We can earn a good income from fishery without making a huge investment. There is a vast market for the fishes produced in Nepal," he said.
President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chitwan-Chapter, Dr. Tilchandra Bhattarai asked the farmers to pay their due attention towards fishery.
"We will be able to tackle problems easily if we get involved in any business only after carrying out a study and research regarding the concerned sector," he said.
Former President of the Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Chitwan-Chapter, Mitra Raj Dawadi stressed the need for the farmers to acquire knowledge and skills about the fishery business before they join it.
"If we are bale to increase fishery production even by making low investments, we could displace the Indian fishes," he said.
He also called for launching a campaign for consuming fishes across the country in order to generate awareness about the importance of fish consumption among them.
According to Ambika Prasad Adhikari, general secretary of the central fishery entrepreneurs’ association, Indian fishes meet about 80 per cent of the total demand in the country.
"Our fishery products cover just 20 per cent of the market demand," he said.
He further said that it would take about five years for the fish producers in Nepal to displace the import of fish from India.
In Chitwan alone, more than 500 farmers have been involved in the fishery business.
