Small Indigenous Fish Species in India : Role in Food Security and Poverty Alleviation

B Vishnu Bhat, FDC, DADF, Ministry of Agri., New DelhiS.K. Saikia, Ph.D., Visva Bharati, West Bengal

Bishnupada Sethi, Comissioner cum Secy. OrissaU.C. Goswami, Ph.D. Gauhati University, Assam

MALNUTRITION IN INDIA-CURRENT SCENARIO

Year GHI Of India

Rank Total country

2011 23.7 67 81

2012 22.9 65 79

2013 21.3 63 78

GHI increase from 22.9 (1996) to 23.7 (2011).

GHI ranking shows India is in critical/ danger condition.

WHO, 2013

Country wise malnutrition status(from data.worldbank.org)

BGD BTN CHN IND0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1980-19952005-2010

% o

f Mal

nutr

ition

Pre

vale

nce

<chi

ldre

n of

5 y

ears

old

Almost half of children (48%) under age five years are chronically malnourished.-National Family Health Survey, India 2005

(65.8-62.5)/(40.8-37.9)

(68.5-49.7)/(44.9-41.0)

India has 2319 fin fish species (NBFGR, 2010) of which 838 are fresh water species.Out of 765 native freshwater species, total 450 fish species have been categorised under small indigenous fish sp. (Sarkar and Lakra, 2011) Orissa, Kerala, Adjoining North Bengal to North Eastern part and North east India are rich in fish biodiversity.

36

59

5

Freshwater Marine water Brackish waterIndia is the second largest fish production country in the World

It is second highest freshwater fish production country in the World

STATUS OF FISHERIES IN INDIA

India achieved 11-fold increase in fish production in just six decades, i.e. from 0.75 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 9.06 million tonnes during 2012-13.

West Bengal 239 (Barman 2007)

North East India 400 of which at least 180 sp. are small fishes.

Rivers and canals 0.19 million kmReservoirs 2.91 million haPonds and tanks 2.41 million ha

Inland Fisheries Resources in India

The famous proverb goes

like this…small is beautiful….

But, we know that small fishes

are not only beautiful, but

also highly nutritious…

5451

4

SIF OIF Cult

There are no authorized and classified data from all states on small fish species. TAG-ORNAMENTAL

Bangana dero Berilius bendelensis Berilius sp.

A large catch of very small fish from beel- a kind of wetland in Assam –Courtsey-DN Das, Rajiv

Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh

A catch of small fish from river in Assam-Courtsey-DN Das, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh

Mixed small fishes in the market of Bolpur (Santiniketan), West Bengal

Channa sp. Sold in Bolpur (Santiniketan), West Bengal

Phot

o: S

.K.S

aiki

a

Phot

o: S

.K.S

aiki

a

Rs.2

00.0

0/kg

Rs.4

00.0

0-60

0.00

/kg

Immediate Concern…..

Revisiting malnutrition

status through People’s Health

Diary and SIF intake

Detailed biology of SIS,

Resource guided nutrient

profiling, Integrating

nutrient diversity

Promotion, awareness and

capacity building

programmes

1• Feeding habit of small fishes

2

• Nutrient bioavailability and food intake in small fishes

3

• Maximum nutrient retention through food processing in small fishes

1

2

3

Fish forms an important component of human diet since more than 50% of Indian population is fish eating and in some states like

Assam and other North – Eastern states, West Bengal, Odisha, Goa and

Kerala, where more than 90% of the population consume fish.

Even though there is significant unreported production of small indigenous fish species of freshwater origin, from culture and

capture fisheries, these SIS tend to be sold and consumed locally.

As such the National Statistics doesn’t reflect the actual production of SIFFS as production and marketing take place at local level, carried

out by family members and could be one of the reasons why they remain invisible in national statistics.

A significant number of these SIS are rich source of micronutrients for the rural poor either on a seasonal basis or round the year.

As per an estimate, on an average, almost 30 per cent of daily income comes from sale proceeds of SIS, as these species have high market

value and are preferred by consumers.

• The Blue Revolution, which initially triggered production of freshwater fish from aquaculture, has been stagnating for years now.

• The government now wants to exploit the vast potential of small fishery to keep pace with the increasing fish demand. The only option for the government is to depend on small fishery.

• Fish accounts for six per cent of India’s food budget as 60 per cent of the country’s population eats fish. This is set for a jump with increase in overall income

• The national fish consumption will reach 6.3 kg per capita by 2020 from 5.6 kg in 2011.

• The projected additional demand for 2020 is about 3.21 million tonnes, of which 90% is expected to be met from freshwater sources.

• But due to lack of species diversification and declining yield, freshwater aquaculture is stagnating. Such is the demand and supply imbalance that during 2006-11, prices of fish doubled.

• While there are 15 to 20 species for commercial culture, only 3 species of carps contribute 87% of freshwater aquaculture production in India. It is estimated that 38% of future fish demand has to be met from SIS

• The potential is very high. India’s small water bodies have a water spread area of 2.41 million hectares, the potential ecosystem to sustain SIS.

The various schemes listed below includes SIS as overall strategy for increasing fish production in the Country :

Development of Freshwater Aquaculture Development of Brackish water Aquaculture Development of cold water Fisheries and Aquaculture in

Hilly Regions Development of Water-logged Areas into Aquaculture

Estate Productive Utilization of Inland Saline/Alkaline Soils for

Aquaculture and Inland Capture Resources (reservoirs/rivers, etc.).

Establishment of National Fisheries Development Board aimed at working towards a blue revolution with a focus on increasing the fish production of the country.

Development of reservoirs, cage culture etc under National Mission on Protein Supplement.

Realizing the importance of SIS and its role in ameliorating nutritional status of poorer undernourished populations, the government of India is formulating several Policies for increasing the overall fish production.

The production of SIS, both from culture and capture fisheries needs proper documentation for projecting them in the National Fish Production Statistics.

Presently, SIS Fishery sector is still an unorganised and unregulated / voluntarily regulated fishery sector in India. Therefore, SIS fishery has to be organised and regulated.

Capacity building activities related to SIS among fish farmers need urgent attention.

Documenting and protecting the traditional knowledge and farmers’ innovation with regard to SIS resources.

Undertaking and documenting nutrient profile studies of SIS by ICAR Institutes, Universities etc. Documenting per capita consumption of SIS in traditional fish eating populations vis-à-vis their health profile.

Way Forward

THANK YOU