Carp breeding using off- season wheat fields

About 300,000 ha of wheat fields around Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh in India are virtual rainfed ponds (havelis) from July to October. There being no source of irrigation, rainwater is Impounded in these fields (with about 1 m high dikes) until the onset of winter when they are drained, ploughed and the wheat is sown. This period lasts for 3-4 months wherein the field is utilized either for common carp seed production. Based on the input requirements for a 0.4 ha field, the following procedures could be followed:

Fish breeding

SEED PRODUCTION

Select a field near the road but away from flood-prone zone. Check the dikes and put meshed screens on the inlets and outlets, if provided.

Spray an emulsion of 201 diesel and 7 kg of cheap washing soap on the water surface to kill predatory aquatic insects as soon as about 60-80 cm of water gets accumulated in the field.

After spraying, release 4 healthy and fully ripe females along with an equal number of males, each weighing about 1 kg. Provide 2-3 kg of Hydrilla or Eich ornia at 3 or 4 places in the field. A fully-ripe, healthy female can be distinguished by its swollen bulging abdomen and a reddish genital region which is pit-like in the male. The males also ooze milk with gentle pressure on their abdomen.

The fish breed within 24-48 hours of stocking or take a day or two more, if they are not fully ripe. The eggs are laid on the weeds and hatch out within 48-72 hours.

Harvesting can be done after 15-20 days. Approximate yield is 100,000 fry of about 2530 mm size. If the field is fertilized with 2000 kg cowdung and the fish are fed with an artificial feed comprising groundnut oil cake and rice bran (1:1 by weight), the survival is high and the growth is fast.

The remaining fry attain a size of 40-60 mm by the time the fields are to be drained when these (about 20,000 fingerlings) are also harvested.

Sample rupee budget for carp in haveli wheat fields (0.4 ha)

1 US$ = 25.50 Rs

Prepared by: S.D. TRIPATHI & B.K. SHARMA

FARMER-PROVEN INTEGRATED AGRICULTURE-AQUACULTURE:
A TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION KIT (IIRR-ICLARM)