Tura, July 11: In a proud moment for Garo Hills, particularly South West Garo Hills district and the state’s Fisheries Department, Nobin Arengh, a progressive fish farmer has been awarded the prestigious Best Fish Farmer Award during celebration of the National Fish Farmer’s Day at the College of Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, in Tripura, on July 10.
Belonging to Monabari village under Betasing C&RD Block, Nobin Arengh has been a pioneer in aquaculture, setting benchmarks in sustainability, quality, and innovation. He began his fish farming venture in 2016 with support from the Fisheries Department.
Arengh’s project was funded through the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) Corpus Fund 2012–13. The initiative, costing Rs. 1,04,475, was supported by a 60% government subsidy (Rs. 62,685.06), a 25% bank loan (Rs. 26,118.78), and his own contribution of 15% (Rs. 15,671.27).
To maximize water column utilization and boost productivity, Arengh stocked his farm with approximately 4,000 fingerlings of Indian Major Carps (Rohu, Katla, Mrigal), Exotic Carps (Common Carp, Grass Carp, Silver Carp), and species like Wallago attu and Chitala.
He took a step further by embracing integrated fish-duck farming, maintaining 26 ducks and generating additional income through the sale of ducklings and eggs.
With an annual fish production of 1.2 to 2.0 metric tonnes, Arengh’s enterprise yields gross earnings of Rs. 3.00 lakh to Rs. 4.00 lakh annually. The produce is sold locally, ensuring steady cash flow and reinvestment opportunities.
According to Risa V.C. Sangma, Superintendent of Fisheries, Ampati, Arengh’s model showcases economic sustainability and enterprise viability, supporting his household’s livelihood, children’s education, and infrastructure development.
“The success of Nobin’s model has inspired neighboring farmers to adopt similar ventures, fostering localized aquaculture growth,” Sangma stated whileunderscoring the potential of innovative fish farming to drive economic progress in the region.
