On Ningol Chakkouba eve, thousands throng fash fair

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 2: On Ningol Chakkouba eve today, people in large numbers flocked to fish fair at Palace Compound, Hapta Kangjeibung.
The Annual Fish Fair cum Fish Crop Competition was organised by the Fisheries Department. Today was the 45th edition of the fair which is organised every year a day before Ningol Chakkouba, one of the largest festivals of the State.
Rajya Sabha MP Lei-shemba Sanajaoba and Fish- eries Minister Heikham Dingo attended the opening function of the fair.
A total of 250 fish farmers took part in the fair and fish crop competition. 180 stalls including that of agro-horticulture produce were opened at the fair.
The fair set a target of showcasing and selling 1,50,000 Kgs of fishes.
At the fair, Fisheries Minister Heikham Dingo said the State has been taking up pro-active efforts under Chief Minister N Biren Singh to substantially increase fish production since 2017.
He said the State has launched various schemes including Shareng project and Loktak Livelihood Mission.
The Fisheries Department has been implementing various projects and taking up concerted efforts with fish farmers to increase yearly yield for the State to become self-reliant in the sector, he said.
The Minister informed that the annual requirement of fish crops in Manipur has risen to 52,000-53,000 MT from 45,000-50,000 MT last year, he said.
The annual fish production of the State during the year 2019-2020 was only 25,000 MT. This has now increased to 35,000-36,000 MT. However, this increase in the production is still short of 15,000-16,000 MT to meet the State's annual requirement, he said.
Fishes are a major part of the diet in Manipur. To meet the annual requirement, Rs 2 crore worth of fishes are imported every year from other States. With improved and enhanced farming techniques, the State's annual fish production is expected to increase further, Dingo said.
Informing about the achievements in the fisheries sector, Dingo said farmers are now able to rear and produce rare local species of fishes including Meitei Shareng, Khabak, Ngaton and Ngahou etc.
These local fishes, which were nearly extinct, have been brought back and showcased at the fair.
This is indeed an accomplishment of the Fisheries Department which has put in tremendous efforts in reviving the indigenous species, Dingo added.
On Shareng project, he said, it was very difficult for farmers to procure the fingerlings from Myanmar and Bangladesh and rear them here. Now, with concerted efforts, the department is able to provide the fingerlings to farmers, he added.
Promoting the indigenous fish species and increasing the overall yield of fish crops are a must to meet the State's annual requirement. For this, the State needs a blue revolution, Dingo said.
For enhanced farming and welfare of farmers, the Government of India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has launched various schemes including loans. The farmers here should avail the benefits of these Centrally sponsored schemes. The State Fisheries Department is also working on developing a policy for fish farmers, he said.
The Fisheries Minister also greeted the people, especially women on Ningol Chakkouba and prayed for the festival to bring peace and prosperity to the State.
Rajya Sabha MP Leishemba Sanajaoba too greeted the people and urged them to celebrate the Ningol Chakkouba in a meaningful way.
Many who have been displaced by the current conflict are still languishing in relief camps. Keeping in mind the hardships they are facing, people should tone down the festival and celebrate it in a simple but meaningful way, he said.
He also called on the people to celebrate Umanglai Haraoba, Kang Chingba etc and perform rituals that are compulsory. Not celebrating these festivals and rituals may send the wrong message and show us as a group who have been defeated in the conflict," Sanajaoba said.
He underscored the importance of increasing the State's annual fish yield, and stated that community ponds in localities should be preserved.
He also advised against construction of community halls by filling ponds.
Ponds may be used to rear fish and this would help the localities earn income, he said, adding he would be happy to construct ponds in place of community halls if people want them.
Fisheries Director, Heisnam Balkrishna said 80 percent of the State's population consume fish, and Manipur ranks 4th among States which are the largest consumer of fishes.
With the objective to enhance fish farming, he said the department has increased the number of hatchery facilities, breeding ponds and installed five ice plants.
Loktak Development Authority (LDA) Chairman Moirangthem Asnikumar, Manipur Building and Under Construction Workers' Welfare Board Chairperson K Sharatkumar and Manipur State Minority Commission Chairman Anwar Hussain attended the launch of the fair.