RAMBAN: The Department of Fisheries has established a Trout rearing unit at Chuna, Gool and started breeding to produce Trout Fish seed for the first time on an experimental basis by traditional ways.
Earlier, the fish seed was procured from ASIA’s largest Trout Fish Farming Project at Kokernag in Kashmir. The efforts of the Department for breeding trout fish will make the seed available not only to this Government farm but also to private fish farmers who have adopted Trout fish farming in the vicinity.
According to the Assistant Director, Fisheries, Fayaz Ahmed Fayaz, the move is aimed at to promote trout farming in the district to enhance income of the farmers by providing trout seed locally to cut the cost of seed transportation which will benefit the marginal fish farmers.
Nearly Rs.62 lakh out of the total approved allocation of Rs.80.48 lakh has so far been spent on the development of the farm having 3 Raceways. A farm hut over 4 kanal 2 marla land is being constructed at Choona village of Gool. The water for the farm is being resourced from Chuna stream (nallah) as Trout survives only in freshwater.
Additional Rs 12 Lakh has also been approved for the fencing of said unit.
Assistant Director informed that Chuna farm has a good potential for rearing 10,000 to 15,000 fish. The demand of trout fish has increased in the local market as the government has approved Rs 500 per Kg rate for it, he added.

KR Desk