The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) is developing a system for high density stocking of fish in cages. An intensive fish culture pond, also allows stocking different varieties and sizes of fish in cages of variable size. “Since the water requirement for this system is quite low, the high-density stocking of fish in different cages enables flexibility in managing a fishpond,” an NIRDPR executive said.

Set up at the institute’s Rural Technology Park at Rajendranagar, the Backyard Re-circulatory Aquaculture System was established with funding from the National Fisheries Development Board.

The Re-circulatory Aquaculture System was developed by Cochin University of Science and Technology.

The Rural Technology Park will demonstrate the functioning of the system and provide necessary training to farmers, self-help groups (SHGs) and youth who are keen on taking up fish culture.

“We are preparing training modules on the Aquaculture System for promoting it as a sustainable mode of income generation,” he said.

Fish varieties that can be grown in the system include Tilapia, Pangasius, Murrel and Pearlspot. “The economics of growing Genetically Improved Farm Tilapia (GIFT) in the pond, for a stocking period of 120 days over three cycles a year, demonstrates that an average monthly return of ₹ 25,750 can be expected from fish culture,” he said.

“We can only double the income of farmers by promoting integrated farming practices. Such technology-backed smart farming solutions will encourage youth to undertake farming as an occupation,” W R Reddy, Director General of NIRDPR, said in a statement here on Monday.

The sludge periodically pumped out of the pond can be used as manure.

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