State of Manipur consumed 48 tons of fish per year when the fish farmer of the state could produce only 28 tons of fish per year. This was stated by Commerce and Industries Minister Govindas Konthoujam while speaking in the inaugural function of the Fish fair cum fish crop competition organised by Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Manipur at Mapal Kangjeibung. He said as the fish farmer of the state could not produce more than 28 tons of fish the state has to depend to other state to meet the demand. For this the Agriculture Minister Abdul Nasir had urged the Union Ministry to extend support to the fish farmers of the state. Govindas further said that his Ministry is urging the union government for inclusion of fish as an item of border trade being underway between the country and Mayanmar at Moreh. Govindas further said that if the fish item is included as a border trade item the fisherman of the state too would bebenefitted as the indiginous fish are in demand in the neighbouring country too.Minister of Fisheries, Abdul Nasir, who also attended the inaugural function, said that the state is now improving in the production of fish. He said three years back from today there were acute shortage of indigenous fish Pengba, and people return back disappointedly without getting it. However in the following years the fish farmer produced adequate quantity of Pengba fish and there were reports that the fish farmers had to take back the fish home. Nasir further said that the department of fisheries of the Government of Manipur is working hard to improve the condition of the fisherman of the state.Chief Secretary of Maniur Lauwmkunga also appreciated the fish farmers of the state in their effort to produce more fish in the state.Around 90 stalls are there in the fish fair cum fish crop competition at Mapal Kangjeibung. Various indigenous fish like Ngaton, Pengba, Bou etc were the show cast of the exhibition.
