Mrinal Kanti Banik
Every morning a group of ambitious women of a non-descript village – Bashpukur, a bordering village located under Sepahijala district of Tripura walk towards their own new business set up. Even during Covid19 induced uncertain times, the- would-be entrepreneurs as they are referred to in their locality, never miss out to visit their unit.
Members of Neer Mahal Village Federation, a common platform of SHGs of the area, are, perhaps, the first commercial women fish cultivators or can be dubbed as fisherwomen of the district, in fact, the state.
The 60 to 70 odd women, who are part and parcel of the federation have taken pioneer attempts to bring in radical change of fish culture in their region through Biofloc. Though their project is still in the initial stage, they are optimistic to become self-reliant in the near future through Biofloc.
Being a unique type of fish culture, “Biofloc” has already made inroads to the rural even in city areas. People like, MP Pratima Bhowmik, Assembly Speaker Rabati Mohan Das and many more had started Biofloc in the limited sphere kept often unused in the backyard or in the terrace. But, a commercialized approach and that too in involvement of women was done for the first time at Bash Pukur.
Mithu Rudra Paul, Chameli Karmakar, Suchitra Paul, Priyanka Rudra Paul and names count might seem like ordinary housewives, but the way they were playing an instrumental role to lay the foundation stone of a big change in their area was highly appreciable and worth recognition.
“There are 60 people in our Village Federation. For now, we have started with four 10,0000 litre tanks which can give 300 killos of fish each twice a year. Though, the cropping is still a few months to go, the health of fish is good and we are hopeful of fetching good benefits and will surely repay the loans we have received to run the project”, an optimistic Mithu Rudra Paul said.
Speaking on their project, she said, “This has come up as a challenge for us. Our Neer Mahal is famous for its fisherman community. But, to an utter disappointment, fish is not the issue for which our area is known for. We are trying to make a statement and also to encourage more and more people to come with us and join hands in making Tripura self-sufficient in fish”.
On this, Debtanu Barman, the key resource person behind the concept of Biofloc in Tripura said, “The concept of Biofloc is nothing but a scientific concept of enhancing fish cultivation in limited water. Since there are no large scale water bodies in Tripura, Biofloc may prove as a game changer. Generally, we use good bacteria to convert the fish excreta into food so that a huge number of fish can stay in a comparatively smaller space”.
Biofloc, Barman said, is an effective scientific technique to culture fish. Here in Bashpukur local women have shown interest in fish culture to achieve financial stability and thus the entire project comes into being.
Barman who runs his own fish consultancy company at Kolkata has been forced to stay at his native village due to the Covid 19 pandemic. But, yet, he has helped almost 600 to 700 people to set up Biofloc in the state.
He said, “See, Biofloc is tested formulae of success. But it requires dedication and hard work. One has to give at least five to six hours of time everyday to its fish and only then you can think of a beneficial crop at the end of the season”.
On being asked on the type of Fish can be cultured through Biofloc, he said, “The fish that love to be in high density water are the suited fish. Tilapia, carp and Koi are preferred more as these fish have good buyers in our markets. Big fishes like Silver carp, Catla can be also cultured but then you have to sell the fish at a young age although prices will remain moderate in the markets”.
(Mrinal Kanti Banik may be contacted at mrinalbanik168@gmail.com )
