Kendrapara: The state fisheries department has encouraged women of various self-help groups(SHGs) to take up fish farming in Kendrapara. Its effort has paid off as many women have scripted success in this farming and become self-reliant.
They have been earning a decent livelihood from the fish farming. According to reports, over 4,000 members of 389 women self-help groups have taken up fish cultivation and are earning around `5,000 each per month.
Anjali Sethy, a native of Pegarpada village and secretary of Jaleshwar women self-help group said, “Catching fish from the water bodies and selling it is our primary occupation. Our families would face hardship if the male members fail to carry on the occupation.”
She formed an SHG by initially involving 10 local women as members. The fisheries department encouraged them in fish cultivation. Two years back, they were given the panchayat and two other local ponds on lease.
The SHG members started the fish cultivation and the earnings they got in the initial years encouraged them to expand the farming. They inducted more women in their group and took up 12 more ponds in the vicinity on lease for cultivation, Sethy said.
Lakshmipriya Mallick, secretary of Siddha Mahaveer SHG at Entalpur village under Garadpur block said that the fish farming has shown them a way to earn a livelihood during the pandemic and proved to be a good source of earning for some families now.
She added that the women are using the ponds in the village for fish farming and earning around `5,000 each per month. Jayanti Rout, an SHG member of Basantpur village under Rajnagar block, said that their livelihood is affected for around seven months due to restrictions on fishing in sea to ensure safe breeding of Olive Ridleys.
They often go hungry during this period. However, the fish cultivation has saved them. Mamatarani Samal, a member of Srisambhu self-help group at Bhektakola village under Rajnagar block, said they have been cultivating Rohu, Labeo Catla (Bhakur) and Mrigal Carp (Mirikali) in the village ponds.
“Fish traders visit our village to purchase the fish from near the ponds. Payment is cleared immediately. Hence, we are earning good profits from this farming,” she added. When contacted, district fisheries officer Maxama Mohapatra said that the women SHGs are cultivating fish in ponds measuring over 160 hectare of land. Every SHG is sanctioned `90, 000 as loan to take up the farming with a subsidy of 60 per cent.
-PNN
