Up to 70% of fish farms face closure due to inflation
Fish farmers in Punjab are facing a crisis allegedly due to government apathy and inflation, leading to the risk of the closure of up to 70% of small fish farms in the province, according to sources in the sector.
The baby fish (seed) for cage fish farming has become rare in various districts, including Dera Ghazi Khan. The increase in the prices of petroleum products, electricity and feed material has badly affected the fish farming sector, resulting in the closure of dozens of fish farms in various districts of Punjab, including Lahore.
A fish farmer from an area near Lahore, Rana Mubashir Hasan, told The Express Tribune that he had built two farms, but both had been closed now due to the lack of baby fish. He added that the farmers had to run tube wells to fill the ponds and the electricity cost had increased drastically, while other expenses, including those on feed, had also increased.
A feed bag of 25kg with 23 per cent protein, which was available earlier at the rate of Rs2,300 is now available for Rs4,000.
Moreover, rice husk has also gone out the reach of the farmers, while modern fish farming with cattle dung only is not possible, Rana Mubashir added.
According to fisheries expert Jam Munir Akhtar, a few large fish hatcheries may survive at this time, but it will be challenging for them to sell baby fish like in the past.
Common fish species, including Rahu, Mori, and Thela, are not useful for cage farming, as their mortality rate increases in August and September.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 20th, 2023.