Last Updated:
Fish farming: Farmer Krishna Yadav of Raigarh has started fish farming by building a pond in half an acre, which is working like an ATM for him. Due to the low cost of grass-fed fish and good price in the market, he is getting more profit from paddy farming.
Raigarh: By adopting modern technology along with traditional farming, farmers are now creating a new way for better income. Farmer Krishna Yadav of Jhalmala village of Raigarh district has started fish farming by building a pond in half an acre of land, and today the fishes are working like ‘ATM’ for him. Whenever there is a need, whenever good prices are available in the market, farmers get immediate income by selling fish.
Farmer Krishna Yadav told Local 18 that grass-eating fish like grass carp and roopchanda are prepared quickly and at low cost. By feeding grass to these fish, the expense of purchasing feed becomes almost negligible. The farmer says that fish seeds are easily available in the local market or from the Agricultural Research Department.
More profit than paddy
Farmer Yadav says that crops like paddy and vegetables have to be sold only at certain times, whereas fish can be sold anytime. As soon as the price increases in the market, one can earn good income by selling the fish. At present, there is a huge demand for fungus fish in the market. Its seed is available for 3 to 5 rupees, but preparing it by feeding it costs 70 to 80 rupees per fish. On the other hand, grass-eating species are very low cost and fetch good prices in the market.
According to the farmer, fish is sold in the wholesale market for Rs 130–150 per kg, while in retail its price reaches Rs 180–200 per kg. Due to low cost and facility of continuous income, Krishna Yadav’s fish farming is proving to be more profitable than paddy farming today.
