Vishu this year was a memorable one for Vincy Reju and her team members of the Mary Matha Self Help Group at nearby Puthenvelikkara panchayat, when they harvested a bumper catch of pearl spot through fish farming.
The harvest was a record catch of 250 kg of pearl spot ( karimeen ) through cage farming within six-and-half months, fetching revenue of ₹1.25 lakh.
Pearl spot fish-based dishes are an added attraction for tourists visiting Kerala which is low on fat, rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and riboflavin.
Fish farming undertaken by the group is part of the women empowerment programme initiated by Kerala University of Fisheries end Ocean Studies (KUFOS) under the ongoing integrated fish village project called Samagra Matsyagramam at Thiruthur in the panchayat.
KUFOS, as part of the programme, formed a self-help group of women in the area by providing them with cages, fish lingers, feeds and training to carry out cage culture of pearl spot.
The University also provided them awareness on trade and product branding to help the group earn more and direct reach to consumers avoiding intermediaries. “All the members in the group are excited with the catch in the harvest. The result of the farming gives us the confidence to go ahead with such fishing practices”, said Vincy Reju, Secretary of Mary Matha Self Help group.
Inaugurating the harvest festival, B Madhusoodana Kurup, Vice-Chancellor, KUFOS, said that steps would be taken to coordinate the fish trade and build a brand from the fish being harvested from cage culture.
“The objective of the programme is to empower women by providing them job opportunities through fish farming,” he said, adding that the project was also helpful to enrich the indigenous fish stocks that are facing the threat of extinction.
KUFOS has taken up the project with the financial support of Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana.
The Fisheries Department and the Puthenvelikkara Panchayat have extended the support for the project, said Daisy C Kappen, Principal Investigator.
Pearl spot culture is fast emerging as a profitable enterprise among farmers as the demand in the domestic market is set to rise to 10,000 tonnes. Currently the annual production is at 2,000 tonnes, which is insufficient to meet the demand.