The Committee has also asked for identifying more such sources where the feasibility of trout fish could be possible.
The PAC has inspected the main source of trout fish at a farm in Kokernag. The Committee has a keen interest in the activities carried out by the Department in the farm and wants to get acquainted with the technology adopted for producing the species.
While briefing the Committee about the performance and programmesof the Department, Director of Fisheries Mr. T. Angchook informed that Trout Fish Farming Project Kokernag commenced in 1985 at a cost of Rs.5 crore, with the financial assistance of European Economic Community (EEC). This farm is now producing 10 lakh trout fish seeds annually from two hatcheries.
This founding project, which initially had the capacity of 1 lakh Rainbow Trout, had ova imported from the UK, with survival rate of 85 per cent. Subsequently the stocks were raised up to the brood stock level.
A number of rearing units have been established throughout the state and have been stocked with the seed of Rainbow trout. The Department was facing constraint in raising trout stock due to non-availability of pelleted feed. Subsequently a feed mill has been established at the premises, which has enabled the Department to raise Brown Trout as part of the project by formulating feed for this species.
Mr Angchook said that presently the Department has 28 sales outlets at different places throughout the state and production requirements were being met from the proceeds of the sales. The Department has earned a revenue over Rs.87 lakh during the year 2006-07. The yearly production of trout fish from all farms is about 60 lakh, he added.