Bhubaneswar: Indian Major Carps (IMCs), rohu, catla, mrigal are seasonal breeders and breed only during monsoon (June-August) throughout India. Nowaday’s farmers prefer for early maturation and are able to start breeding program from February end which continues maximum up to September. Therefore, stockable size seed is generally available from the month of June onwards as it takes minimum of three months to reach to this stage after spawning. But maturation and breeding of IMCs in the off season particularly during November-January, under farm condition was not possible so far due to constraint of specific ambient condition. It has been a major challenge to break this seasonal barrier. Many attempts were made by ICAR-CIFA to overcome this barrier and breed the fish in offseason (November-January). But it remains unaccomplished in the farmer’s field even though achieved at the research station under controlled condition.
Tamil Nadu provides a unique ecological condition where monsoon happens twice and rainfall during Northeast monsoon (October-December) is more than Southwest (June-August). However, breeding of IMCs during Northeast monsoon was never reported before in Tamil Nadu. By scientific intervention, a landmark success was achieved on 3rd and 5th December 2019 for the first time when both rohu and catla were matured and bred successfully in the field condition in two farms in Tamil Nadu.
CIFABROODTM a proven carp brood stock diet developed by ICAR-CIFA was supplied to few farms in Tamil Nadu by the end of September 2019 under NFDB funded project to observe possibility of maturation. Farms were selected by the Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamil Nadu which fed the spent broods with CIFABROODTM @2% body weight for 45 days. Breeding program was carried out on 3rd December 2019 at Pugazh Aqua Farm, Kumarakudi, Sathiathope of Cuddalore district and on 5th December 2019 at Govt. Fish Farm, Manimuthar of Tirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu. Both rohu and catla were bred at Pugazh Aqua Farm harvesting 25 lakhs of spawn from 23.1kg female while 11 lakhs of improved rohu (Jayanti) spawn were recovered from 11.3kg female at Govt. Fish Farm, Manimuthar. This success has long term implication as Tamil Nadu can be developed into a major seed production centre especially during non-breeding season, which will contribute substantially for the aquaculture production in the country.
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