Carp Yearling Farming Brings New Hope to Rural Assam

Rupak Kr. Taye, Animesh Deka & Bhabesh Ch. Deka

Background

In the heart of Nagaon district lies the quiet village of Jalahgaon where Mr Bilal Ahmed was born and raised. Coming from a humble farming background, his family depended largely on agriculture and small-scale fish culture for their livelihood. In 2012, he owned a 5 bigha pond that had been constructed without any scientific design or technical advice. The pond was shallow in some places and lacked proper water inlets and outlets which are essential for healthy fish growth. Due to these limitations, his fish production was low and inconsistent which meant that the income generated was barely enough to cover the costs of feed and maintenance.
Mr Ahmed had an interest in fish farming from a young age but without proper technical know-how and resources, his dream of running a profitable aquaculture venture seemed far away. The situation changed when he decided to explore new ways to improve his farm and sought guidance from experts.