Fish farming using cage culture technology in closed mines has become a new source of employment and self-reliance

Making the closed mines of Rajnandgaon district useful for livelihood, fish farming using cage culture technique under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana is proving to be increasingly popular and profitable. This innovation has not only proved to be economically beneficial for the fish farmers, but has also become a new source of employment for more than 150 local unemployed youth and women.

Using the closed mines as a water source in the village Joratarai of the district, a total of 324 cages have been installed in 18 units at a cost of Rs 9.72 crore. The cost of each cage unit is Rs 3 lakh, out of which Rs 5.83 crore has been provided as 60 percent grant. Cage culture, also known as net pen culture, is a modern technique of setting up floating cage units in the reservoir. In this, a cage unit has four enclosures, where finger-sized fish are reared, which weigh about one to one and a quarter kilograms in five months. Fish like tilapia and pangasius are being reared in this technique. Each cage produces 2.5 to 3 tonnes of fish, which gives a monthly income of 6 to 8 thousand rupees.

Smt. Purnima Sahu of village Mudhipar Station Para said that her economic condition has improved after joining the cage culture technique through Jai Maa Santosh Mahila Self Help Group. The women of the group have expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai. More than 8 lakh fishes are being reared in the mines of Joratarai. This technique is not only suitable for the fast growth and health of the fishes, but the risk of infection is also less. Fishermen can take out fishes from the cage as per their need.

This initiative of the state government has provided means of employment to unemployed youth and women. With this new technique of fish farming, fresh and local fish are now available in the market. Cage culture technique has established new dimensions of fish production in the district. This use of water sources of reservoirs and closed mines is an important step towards self-employment and self-reliance.