There is increasing demand for catfishes like Clarius batrachus, Clarias
gariepinus in India. The soil patterns in
central Maharashtra regions of India are
highly pervious and water seepage losses are very high. Therefore
practically fish farming in earthen ponds is difficult and farmer has
to spend lot of energy in maintaining the water level of the pond by
adding the water from the available water source if any. Owing to this
demand a techno economic model has been developed which is
suitable to
any topographical and geographical situations for the production of
African catfishes (Clarias
gariepinus).
Under this model a plastic lined pond of 15M X 15MX 0.75M was
constructed by excavating soil up to 0.4M. The excavated soil was
dumped on the bank of the pond boundaries. Pond lining made up of inert
LDPE plastic film having 250 mM
thickness was provided on bottom as well as sides of the pond. Pond was
filled with rain water and fertilizer application was done @ 15 kg wet
cow dung per 100 square meters per week. Catfish Clarias gariepinus
fingerlings having size of 5-7 mm were stocked @ 5 fingerlings per
square meter of pond area. Regular feeding with boiled poultry
slaughter waste and pellated feed in the ratio of 3:1 was done @ 10
percent of the body weight of fish in two splited doses per day. Fish
growth was monitored regularly. After 90
days the fish harvest was started and completed by the 105 days. The
survival of 96 percent is observed with average weight of 735 +
0.338 gms. The total fish production obtained is 793.80 kg. Total
expenditure incurred on inputs was Rs.15,152/- and total receipt from
sale of fish was Rs.31,735/-. Net profit obtained was Rs.16,583/-.
Triplicates of this model were tested in different regions for two
years. From results it can be concluded
that ponds having plastic lining are suitable for catfish production.
The plastic lining can be utilized for nine successive production
cycles without any damage to it. This techno economic model for fish
production is extremely suitable for small farmers who are having
fragmented and marginal land holdings and suitable in draught regions
also. Economics observed for this model shows that it is very cost
effective way of catfish Clarias gariepinus production. As many as three production cycles can be undertaken in a year.