Drought hits pisciculture in Kadur taluk

Pisciculture, which has the potential of providing good income and foreign exchange along with adequate supply of nutritious food, is being promoted in the taluk.

Over the last one year, more than 16 lakh fingerlings have been distributed in the taluk.

Unfortunately, the taluk, which was doing well in fish culture is now seeing setback due to drying lakes and other water sources, which are the lifeline for Pisciculture.
While the water level in Madagadagere, Ayyanakere, Vishnusamudrakere has been normal, the situation in remaining 34 lakes is not all that encouraging.

The Meenu Balakedarara Sangha, Meenugara Sahakara Sangha and those who have taken fingerlings over auction say that there is shortage of six lakh fingerlings this year, when compared to last year.

The district has 154 large lakes, 1,365 small lakes, two reservoirs, irrigation canals, private ponds, pits etc, which have been contributing to fish cultivation.

While water in Garje, Yallambalase, Singatagere lakes has been depleting, Chikkangala, Tangali, Bukkasagara lakes have been getting flow from Madagadakere, thereby sustaining fish culture.

There are seven government and four private fingerling production units in the district.

To boost fingerling production, the Government gives subsidy of Rs one lakh for those wanting to put up fingerling hatchery unit in one hectare land area and Rs 75,000 for fingerling rearing ponds. Further, those interested to make fish production unit on their own land will be given subsidy of Rs 10,000, said Fisheries Department Assistant Director R Mahadeva.

The lakes in the taluk received ‘katla’, ‘rohu’, ‘maigal’, ‘belligende’, ‘hullugende’ and some other species of fresh water fishes.

The fingerlings grow upto one kg weight within eight months of releasing the fingerlings in to the lakes.

With the aim of boosting development of fishermen eight Fisheries Co-operative Societies have been formed.

These Societies have 1,365 members at present.The fishermen in the region feel that if the taluk was not hit by drought them this would have been a golden period for them.