Transforming a traditional fisherman into successful aquapreneur

Vikas, P A and Subramannian, Shinoj (2014) Transforming a traditional fisherman into successful aquapreneur. In: Souvenir: International Conference on Management of Agribusiness and Enterpreneurship Development. Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Bhopal, p. 40.

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Abstract

Shri. Ambrose Thommissery was a traditional fisherman till October 2012. KVK selected him for demonstrating scientific Mullet (Mugil cephalus) fish farming in his pond of 0.8 acre size which was kept idle due to the downfall of shrimp farming on account of White spot syndrome (WSS) viral disease. Traditional shrimp filtration and fishing using traditional gears were his livelihood options. He hardly earns INR 20,000/- per annum from this pond and was striving to manage his family of four. The programme started with multiple site visits in the locale by KVK officials to identify the farmer interested in associating with the venture. After finalizing Shri.Ambrose, the farming programme developed through a continuous collaboration between KVK and him. His local support group was watching and also participating in the program. Mullet fry’s required for the culture were caught from wild using improved gears. Quality control of seeds was ensured by using healthy and damage free seeds transported in oxygen filled polyethylene bags. Nursery rearing of Mullet fry’s was done in happa nets erected in the pond. Spot feeding was done using pellet feed. The feed size successively increased and the ration managed depending on the growth. A survival percentage of 90 was ensured in nursery rearing phase. The fingerlings were then released into the pond for grow-out culture for 10 months. Here also scientific feeding schedule was followed. The fishes reached average length weight of 520 gm with 80 % survival rate. Live caught fish were marketed at farm gate itself. It was a great success due to high domestic demand for the live farm fresh fish. This process also avoided the intervention of middlemen and fetched a maximum price higher than the prevailing retail market price. The total expenditure including seed cost, feed, pond cleaning and other miscellaneous expenditure was INR 44,500/- .A total of 500 kg fish was harvested and sold at the rate of INR 500/- per kilogram fetching a total income of INR 2.5 lakhs. Following the success of the demonstration, other traditional farmers in the locale have come forward for replicating scientific mullet farming programme during the next season using own fluids. The participant farmer has already kept aside INR 50,000/- for continuing the farming in the next season.

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