Fish feed production begins at processing unit in Una

The Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department has begun production of good quality fish feed to promote aquaculture in the state and enhance the income of fish rearing farmers.

Director of the Fisheries Department Vivek Chandel said the fish feed, with the brand name ‘Cifabrood’, is being manufactured in Deoli fish farm of the state Fisheries Department located at Amb subdivision of Una district.

Besides ensuring a balanced diet of the fish, ‘Cifabrood’ also enhances the fertility of the mature fish.

Vivek Chandel, Director, Fisheries Dept

Vivek Chandel said the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture located in Bhubaneswar, which is a wing of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research, had developed the formula for the feed and the entire technical formulary had been handed over to the Himachal Pradesh Fisheries Department on the basis of a bilateral agreement.

The director said that besides ensuring a balanced diet and good health of the fish, Cifabrood also enhances the fertility of the mature fish, thereby ensuring a more economically viable business for farmers. Besides, he said, the feed will be made available to the state’s fish rearing farmers at minimum cost, which will further boost the farm income.

Chandel said aquaculture is fast becoming a lucrative business for enterprising farmers and Cifabrood will add to the blue revolution in the state and provide employment opportunities, especially to the rural masses.