| Year |
Seed
Production (Mn) |
| Carp
seeds |
Tilapia
seeds |
| PL |
Fry |
Fingerlings
|
Fry |
Fingerlings
|
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002 |
10.3
11.2
10.7
15.1
21.3
17.5
24.4
27.7 |
5.1
5.5
5.4
3.7
1.7
1.0
7.0
9.0 |
0.08
0.45
0.43
0.78
0.63
1.47
1.98
2.53 |
-
-
-
-
-
2.23
0.76
1.29 |
-
-
-
-
-
0.28
0.46
0.86 |
|
The major production output of the Authority is fish seed. All the
other functions of NAQDA are related in someway to fish seed production.
Therefore, fish seed production can be considered as a direct or indirect
indicator of many activities carried out by the Authority. Over the
years, with the enhancement of facilities for breeding and rearing of
fish seed at AQDCs, the fish seed production capacity of the Authority
expanded gradually. This is reflected by the fish seed production data
given in the table below.
|
However, fish seed production
is not determined by the production capacities at AQDCs alone. Initially,
NAQDA stocked water bodies and provided fry to out growing fry-fingerlings
pond owners free of charge. Therefore, until the year 1999 the fish seed
production at centres increased with the improvement of their capacity.
Since, the year 2000 the Authority went for demand-oriented policy with
pricing of fish seed for the first time. This led to initial decrease
in fish seed production due to drop of demand for fish seed. However,
the Authority took steps to promote the demand for fish seed with the
help of its extension staff and therefore fish seed production at centres
also are gradually increasing.
Demand for fish seed production could be expected to
increase in large amounts with the implementation of the proposed Aquaculture
Development and Quality Improvement Project funded by ADB. It has major
components for the development of reservoir fisheries and aquaculture
enterprises that have a potential to create significant demand for fish
seed in future. The project also has substantial provisions to upgrade
the fish seed production facilities at AQDCs, so that they can cater to
these demand-oriented developments. |
