Fish Farming Business Plan: If you are planning to start a fish farming business then know everything from Dr. Anoop Sachan

Fish Farming Business Plan: Fish farming business is a great source of income for farmers, but profit can be earned from this business only when modern methods are adopted in fish farming technology and all things from water quality to fish diet are taken care of. For farmers who do not have cultivable land or who do not want to do farming, or who have land but it is not fertile, fish farming is a good option for such farmers. By planning and starting the fish farming business, losses can be reduced and profits can be increased.

To make this business profitable, how can farmers take care of things like advanced management, proper diet for fish, water quality and disease control, and which species of fish is profitable to rear, Kisan of India correspondent Sarvesh Bundeli spoke to Dr. Anoop Sachan of the College of Fisheries of Pantnagar Agricultural University on all important issues in the context of fish farming technology.

Selection of soil is necessary in fish farming business plan

Just like the selection of soil is very important for farming, similarly the selection of right soil for making a pond is also very important under the plan of fish farming business. In this regard, Dr. Anoop Sachan says that first of all, the soil should be tested while making a pond. For this, clay loam soil is suitable, because there is less leakage of water in it. There is more leakage of water in stony, gravelly, sandy soil, due to which a lot of water is needed and the water dries up in 3 days. This causes loss to the farmer. After selecting the soil, the fish farmer has to keep in mind which species of fish to rear and how he can earn maximum profit. 

How to build a pond in a fish farming business plan?

Dr. Anoop Sachan advises fish farmers to build rectangular ponds from east to west. He says that a pond of one acre is considered the best, because the more the fish run in such a large pond, the better their health will be, the more growth will be. The depth of the pond should be 2 meters i.e. 7-8 feet deep, and the water should be filled up to 5-6 feet. The dams of the pond should not be straight, there should be a slight slope so that they do not get cut when the wind blows.

Dr. Sachan tells under the fish farming business plan that after building the pond, its bottom should be lightly plowed. After plowing, 40 quintals of cow dung (raw or 4-5 days old) and one quintal of quicklime should be put in a one-acre pond so that the harmful gas is eliminated. After adding lime and cow dung, when one feet of water is filled in the pond, some water dries up and mix cow dung and lime in the remaining water. For this, use a bucket or net. Then fill 6 feet of water in it and after that put healthy baby fish in the pond. 

Which fish should be put in the pond and when?

Dr. Anoop Sachan says that farmers often make the mistake of putting very small bhatchlings in the pond. In such a situation, the babies die early if even a little harmful gas is released. Fish farmers should always keep in mind that the babies should be put in the pond only when they grow to 30 to 40 grams. This will also tell about their number, how to feed them and the amount of food. Small babies should be reared by making a separate nursery pond and when they grow to 30-40 grams, then only they should be put in the big pond, this will reduce the mortality rate of the babies.

Selection of fish 

Dr. Anoop Sachan advises that fish farmers should rear such fish which grow fast, and the fish should be such that it eats whatever grain/food is given to it. Its immunity should also be good. Fish seeds should be selected keeping these things in mind. If you are putting fish of different species in the pond, then make sure that they are not competitors. 

Make an annual calendar for fish farming (Fish Farming Activities Calendar)

Dr. Anoop Sachan advises that since most of the fish hatchlings are found in monsoons, fish farmers should make an annual calendar and divide it into 4 parts. Make the pond in March, April and May. They get time to put the hatchlings in June, July and August. Then in September and October, things like managing the fish, how to feed them, etc. are done. In the months after that, the fish are ready for sale.

How many species of fish can be put in one pond?

Regarding this, Dr. Anoop says that there are three layers of water. There is an upper surface, middle surface and lower surface, so fishes living in all three surfaces should be put in the pond. Silver carp and Katla are fish living in the upper surface, Rohu fish can be reared in the middle surface, its demand in the market is also high. Common carp and Nain fish are for the lower surface, which eat things at the bottom. Some grass also grows in the pond which is eaten by grass carp fish, so in this way 6 types of fish can be reared in a pond. This is called integrated fish farming, because in this the water environment remains good and the food is also used properly. 

How to prepare plankton for fish? (Plankton fish feed) 

Plankton is the natural food of fish. It is prepared from cow dung. Dr. Anoop tells that to make it, fill one-third of cow dung in a 4 by 2 meter tank. About 25-30 quintals of cow dung comes in it. Put one quintal of mustard cake, 20 kg of waste jaggery and 5-6 kg of NPK (manure) in it and fill it completely with water. Plankton starts forming in 8-10 days. Now keep pouring 30-40 buckets of this water in the pond every day, this will not pollute the water of the pond. And keep pouring water in the tank as well. This will keep plankton forming in both places. Or if you want, put 5-6 quintals of cow dung in the pond every month, this also increases plankton.

How to prepare fish feed? 

Dr. Anoop suggests that for good income it is necessary to give good food to the fish. Fish farmers can prepare food at home, for this mix 40 kg of mustard cake, 40 kg of rice polish, 10 kg of fish chick and 10 kg of coarse grains. You can grind this mixture and feed the fish. This food should be given twice. He further tells that usually one and a half to three percent of the weight of the fish has to be given to them. Therefore, the fish should be weighed regularly and as the weight increases, the amount of food should be increased.

Production in fish farming

Dr. Anoop says that 4-5 thousand fish can be put in a pond of one acre. The weight of a fish is about 800 grams to 1 kg. In such a situation, about 4 tonnes can be produced from a pond, if the management is done well. The cost in this is one and a half to two lakh rupees, the rest is profit. It is also important to protect the fish from disease for good income, for this, fish farmers need to take special care and it is important for them to gather information in this regard.

Frequently asked questions on fish farming business plan 

Question: What things should be kept in mind before starting a fish farming business?

Answer: Before starting a fish farming business, it is important to select the right soil, construct the pond correctly, and select the right species of fish. Apart from this, it is also important to pay attention to water quality, fish diet, and disease control.

Question: How to choose the right soil for a pond?

Answer: Clay loam soil is best suited for a pond as it has low water seepage. Stony, gravelly, or sandy soils seep water more, which requires more water and can affect the stability of the pond. 

Question: How should a pond be constructed?

Answer: It is best to construct a rectangular pond in the east-west direction. The depth of the pond should be 2 meters (7-8 feet) and it should be filled with water up to 5-6 feet. The sides of the pond should have a slight slope so that it is not damaged by the effect of wind.

Question: When should fish fry be put in the pond?

Answer: Fish fry should be put in when they weigh 30-40 grams. Young fry should be reared in a separate nursery pond and when they grow up, they should be put in the main pond.

Question: Which species of fish should be chosen for fish farming?

Answer: Fish should be chosen which have fast growth and good disease resistance. Fish species such as silver carp, katla, rohu, common carp, and nan fish are suitable for keeping on different surfaces in a pond. 

Question: How to prepare fish feed?

Answer: Mustard cake, rice polish, fish chick and coarse grains can be added to the diet for fish. The amount of feed should be 1.5% to 3% according to the weight of the fish.

Question: How to prepare plankton?

Answer: To prepare plankton, put a mixture of cow dung, mustard cake, jaggery, and manure in a tank. Leave this mixture in water for 8-10 days. Keep adding it regularly to the pond so that the plankton keeps growing.

Question: How many fishes can be put in one acre pond?

Answer: 4-5 thousand fish fry can be put in one acre pond. About 4 tons of production can be obtained from this pond with good management.

Question: How to make an annual calendar for fish farming?

Answer: Make an annual calendar of fish farming as follows: Prepare the pond from March to May, put fish fry from June to August, do the management from September to October, and in the remaining months the fish will be ready for sale.

Question: How to control diseases in fish farming?

Answer: Proper diet, water quality, and regular inspection are important for disease control in fish farming. The fish farmer should get information about identifying and treating diseases.