Aqua Nest Murrel Hatchery Flourishes, PMMSY Empowering Farmers in Aquaculture

A SUCCESS STORY

by Fishery News
Published: Last Updated on

In a remarkable success story of aquaculture entrepreneurship, the Aqua Nest Murrel Hatchery, operationalized by three dedicated partners, has become a beacon of prosperity for farmers venturing into Murrel fish farming.

The trio behind Aqua Nest Murrel Hatchery comprises:

  • Ashok Kumar – Transitioned from a game designer in the IT sector to an Aqua Culture and Technical Guider.
  • Sandeep – An Aqua Farmer with a passion for sustainable aquaculture.
  • Avinash – A Civil Engineer turned Aqua Culture enthusiast and supporter.

Established in 2020, Aqua Nest Hatchery swiftly enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme for the financial year 2020-21, marking a strategic move to enhance fish farming practices.

The hatchery sources brooders from the Kolleru River in Andhra Pradesh, focusing on the Striped Murrel species (Channa striatus). In the year 2021, the hatchery produced approximately 4.5 lakh Murrel seeds, contributing significantly to the aquaculture sector.

Farmers who adopted Murrel seeds from Aqua Nest Hatchery experienced successful harvests, reaping profits in the previous year. In the current financial year (2022-2023), the hatchery has demonstrated exponential growth, producing and supplying nearly 6 lakh Murrel seeds, with an additional 1 lakh reserved for their own Biofloc farming endeavors.

The hatchery’s fingerlings, reared to an average size of 7-8 cm and a weight of 15-20 gms over a 35-40 day period, are sold to farmers at a reasonable rate of Rs. 7-8 per piece. The production cost stands at Rs. 2.5 per fingerling.

Murrel fish farming details highlight innovative practices adopted by farmers:

  • Stocking 7,000 – 10,000 fingerlings in a one-acre pond.
  • Implementing Biofloc technology to enhance fish survival rates to an impressive 85%.
  • Cultivation period spanning 8-9 months, with fish reaching a marketable size of 800 gms – 1 Kg.
  • Feeding with formulated pellet feed containing 40% protein and 8% fat.

The production cost for 1 Kg of Murrel fish is estimated at Rs. 180-200, covering seed, feed, medicine, minerals, labor, and electricity expenses. The farm gate price for Murrel ranges between Rs. 300-350, presenting a profitable venture for farmers associated with Aqua Nest Hatchery.

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