SHORT FEATURE Raising Incomes Through SCAMPI FARMING

Subrato Ghosh

N , freshwater pond aquaculture and capture-based fishery activities are mainly rural-based Iand operated by small- to medium-scale farmers. Farming of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii or Scampi in monoculture or polyculture systems Macrobrachium rosenbergii at harvest (90-125 gm) in ponds is lucrative because of its fast growth rate, easy acceptability of both plant- and animal-based diets, ability to withstand wide fluctuation in salinity, resistance to diseases, high demand and market price. It is getting popular owing to increased availability of post-larvae (10-12 mm) and juveniles (30 mm) both from wild waters and those produced Water body in hatcheries. of Gangadevi Scampi and Scampi farming can be conducted by unskilled rural Fishermen fish feed Co-operative people on small establishments in modified-extensive type used by Sri Society Ltd. of management. It is predominantly a cooperative venture Mondol and does not necessitate specialized training but needs proper management and monitoring. Prawn farming yields higher net profits than most other occupations and vocations and farmers rarely subsidize their income with other activities (Sahu, 2014). 2013 under the initiative of Taldi GP in 2013; construction Scampi culture is considered to have the potential to cost amounting to Rs. 3,00,000/-. It is not a traditional raise income among impoverished farmers; an increase in endogenously-managed farming system, but a more extensive cultured M. rosenbergii will likely improve livelihoods and commercial venture. (Banu and Christianus, 2016). The species grows well even Uttar Taldi was originally an unirrigated village beside with 15% protein feeds in ponds with sufficient natural a creek of the Bidyadhari, a tidal river. The creek ceased to food. Unlike Penaeus monodon, Scampi are grown on low exist since 1963 when a bundh was constructed across it and protein and relatively inexpensive diets (Mitra et al., 2005). Canning-I Block and Bhangore-II Block (or Jibontala) were Scampi farmers in West Bengal have evolved innovative connected on roadway via Uttar Taldi. Canning town is 7 culture strategies based on their experiences. They produce km ahead of Uttar Taldi, and is the gateway to , high value product at low to medium investment and low which is a huge mangrove forest on the coast of risk. Sri Ganesh Mondol, aged 67, President/Chairman, by the Bay of Bengal. Gangadevi Samudrik Matsyajibi Samabaay Society Limited Scampi or M. rosenbergii has wider potentiality for (Gangadevi Fishermen Co-operative Society Ltd) is one culture in many brackish water areas of Indian Sundarban such farmer. delta (Chand et al., 2015). Low saline water culture at 5ppt This co-operative society is based in village Uttar Taldi, and upto 7ppt has been found to be conducive for Scampi Taldi Gram Panchayat (GP), under Canning-I Community farming, which gives better production and survival (Rao, Development Block in district of West 2010). According to Sri Mondol, the 247 decimal pond is low Bengal. Sri Mondol and associated farmers are practicing saline in nature, bottom soil is having the characteristics of Scampi farming in a 247 decimal pond (800 feet x 135 feet) that of a river, sandy-loam/sandy-clay in texture, favouring with 4.5 feet water depth, which they have gained possession growth of Scampi. in December 2013 from Taldi GP. It was a three-year term In April 2017, Sri Mondol stocked 1000 M. rosenbergii lease agreement valued at Rs. 93,000/-, with extension of juveniles, 1.5-2.0 in size, riverine, Rs. 3.00/- per piece. It one year. The water body was constructed during May-June attained 4 inches on 8 July 2017 and was harvested at the

34 | Science Reporter | October 2019 Juvenile of M. rosenbergii at stocking

Sri Ganesh Mondol Marketable-sized M. rosenbergii end of six months from stocking. Additionally 2900 hair-like Dr A.K. Das, Senior Scientist and Head, Training and post-larvae of length 8-10 mm were stocked in the first week Extension Cell, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research of June 2017, which were captured from river Roydighi in Institute, Barrackpore had once visited this site and Mathurapur-II Block of this district, bought in oxygen-packed appreciated Sri Mondol’s efforts. He is using the commercial condition @ Rs. 850/- per 1000 nos. They attained 1.5-2.0 dust-form aquaculture product ‘Reegain’ (Rs 350/- per kg), 8 inches in one month. It will grow to 75-120gm at the end of kg every time in 247 decimal pond, once or twice in a month ten months, Sri Mondol stated. when felt necessary. It maintains the optimum dissolved oxygen level, good condition of pond water and soil, and He uses ‘Magic Fish Feed’ brand supplementary prawn favours growth of both Scampi and major carps. Lime and feed (2-3 mm dia pellets, 1 cm long, 18-20% protein content, inorganic fertilizers need not be applied if Reegain is used, price: Rs 900/- per 50 kg sack). It is used in between 7.30- Sri Mondol stated. 8.00pm, once in 24 hours, 12 kg every time, broadcast on He is using another product ‘AFP Forte’, a prawn all four sides of the pond from the embankment. The pellets feed supplement (Price: Rs. 1900/- per 5 kg pack). During become soft like rice and are accepted by growing Scampi April, the water table in the pond recedes to 2 feet, which is of all size. increased by drawing out groundwater and filling using a 2 In addition to prawn, presently there are about 400 kg of HP pump bought by the society, costing Rs. 12,000/-. Use Indian major carps in this pond, of 350-400 gm and upto 1250 of pelleted feeds of renowned manufacturers and high cost gm in size. With input support from Office of the Assistant aquaculture products will not be possible for a large number Director of Fisheries, South 24 Parganas, carp fingerlings of small-scale and resource-poor farmers. For Gangadevi (80-100 gm) were stocked in this pond in October 2015. Samudrik Matsyajibi Samabaay Society Limited, Scampi Most of the marketable-sized fishes were harvested at the farming has proved to be a good profit-generating small end of May 2017 and left with this amount. For IMC and scale business idea. Puntius javanicus, 50 kg Magic Fish Feed is applied on every Mr Subrato Ghosh is Fishery Extension Officer, Fish Farmers’ alternate day, suspended in perforated polyethylene bags or Development Agency, Kolkata, West Bengal. Address: 122/1V, mosquito nets (having larger drilled pores) on bamboo pole Monohar Pukur Road, P.O. Kalighat, Kolkata–700026, West fixed at one location. Bengal. Email: [email protected]

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