Youth in Assam's Kamrup District take up pisciculture

Kamrup, Feb 21 (ANI): Educated youth in Bogibari village of Assam's Kamrup District have taken up fish farming with financial assistance from government-run banks.

Madan Baishya, now owns a freshwater pond in which he cultivates a variety of fish and prawn. He is one among many youth who have become financially self-reliant by adopting pisciculture, piggery and dairy farming.

"This is a good beginning. It is very difficult to get a job these days. Unemployed youth have benefited by adopting pisciculture. Many of us have started our own small businesses like fishery, piggery, broiler farming etc. It's very helpful," said Baishya.

Kalong-Kapili, a leading NGO in the area is helping educated youth to benefit from government-run-schemes. It has helped them take loans from Assam Gramin Bank and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The NGO also organizes training on scientific fish farming, horticulture, dairy farming and goat rearing from time to time.

"Assam is good for fish cultivation and has good market. So we are encouraging to those who are unemployment to take this "fish farming" so that they get job in this field and will benefit and satisfied by earning enough money for their livelihood," said Jyotish Talukdar, general secretary, Kalang-Kapilingo.

Bogibari has become a model village for pisciculture in the region.

"We not only rearing fish but also fresh water prawn with the assistance of the NGO. Our income has increased through sale of prawns in the market," said Dandeshwar Deka, a fish farmer.

Assam, with good natural water resources, a predominantly fish eating population, has great potential for the development of fisheries which can generate jobs for the educated youth. (ANI)