Wish to grow vegetables and fish but don’t have the space for it? More than 200 families in Cherai, Ernakulam, have found the answer by implementing aquaponics.
Cherai embraced it as part of the initiative launched by Pallipuram Service Co-operative Bank (PSCB) in 2006 in association with Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), said K V Abraham, president, PSCB Ltd. As per MPEDA’s record of 2006, Cherai is the first aquaponics village in India.
“From 2006 till 2019, over 200 families were involved in aquaponics. Right from the start, many showed interest in this type of farming which would provide vegetables and fish they needed,” Abraham said.“However, many quit when Covid struck. Now, around 70 families are engaged in aquaponics. We are taking steps to revive the project and aim to rope in all 10,000 families in the village. We have restarted its training,” he said. Cherai’s experimentation and success of aquaponics spread, attracting people from the state and the country, said Abraham.
‘People from other states come to learn aquaponics’
K V Abraham said the farmers faced some technical issues regarding subsidy on the juveniles of Gift Tilapia. “The issue has now been sorted, and juveniles (up to 500 numbers) will be provided to the farmers for free by the MPEDA,” said Abraham. The bank will provide loans to farmers who are interested in aquaponics.
“The loan amount starts from Rs 15,000. This is the smallest unit. We encourage people to go for domestic units that will cater to the fresh vegetable and fish needs of the families. These units are viable and can be easily maintained,” he said.
Read the entire article at New Indian Express