Phulbani: Fish farming is no longer a male dominated domain as women from SHGs have already braced themselves up for the same in the state. The government has been emphasizing on women empowerment. As a part of this drive, a plan has already been in place to give the panchayat ponds to the SHGs for pisciculture for their financial growth.
In Kandhamal district, 59 ponds out of 171 panchayat ponds have been earmarked for fish farming. 42 of these ponds have already been handed over to the SHGs on lease. While the minimum lease period is one year, the maximum period is three years. If required, the lease period can be extended further, suggests government data.
The Fishery Department and Mission Shakti have targeted to complete leasing all of the remaining ponds by August 31. Fingerlings are scheduled to be released in these ponds before September 30.
According to sources, in Phulbani block, 12 ponds have been identified with an estimated area of eight hectares. Similarly, three ponds in Khajuripada with an area of 2.5 hectares, nine ponds in Phiringia with an area of four hectares, two ponds in Tikabali with an area of four hectares, nine ponds in Chakapada with an area of three hectares, five ponds in G. Udayagiri with an area of four hectares, five ponds in Raikia with an area of one hectare, three ponds in Daringibadi with an area of 0.6 hectare, five ponds in Baliguda with an area of 1.6 hectares, four ponds in Tumudibandh with an area of 0.8 hectare and two ponds in Kotagarh with an area of 0.6 hectare have been identified for fish farming.
Sources said, the SHGs in K. Nuagaon are not going to benefit as the ponds there have already been leased out for a period of three years. Another grey area is to identify panchayat ponds. Some of the panchayats are not in favour of leasing out their ponds to SHGs.
It is alleged that the revenue a panchayat gets from leasing out its ponds to SHGs is far less than that what they get from other parties.
SHGs will pay Rs 2,000 a year to the concerned panchayat for one acre pond. If they extend the lease period for another year, they would need to pay ten more per cent.
That is the reason which is why some of the panchayats are reluctant to lease out their ponds to SHGs. But sarpanchs and executive officers can ill afford to do much as it has been the direction of the Chief Minister himself.
At the same time, the SHGs are also falling on themselves to get the lease. But, the SHGs identified by Mission Shakti and assistant fishery officer are getting the joy. There is discontent among those unlucky SHGs who have not been picked up, it was learnt.
“Common carp, Rohu and Mackerel fishes are to be cultivated. The government would give 60 percent of the entire project cost or a subsidy for cultivation in an acre, informed assistant fishery officer Prafulla Kanhar.
If the SHGs do not have capital, they will be linked with a bank for loan. We expect, a profit of Rs 1.20 lakh can be earned in a year from a pond measuring one acre, Kanhar added.
PNN