GUWAHATI: Despite an increase of over 33% in fish production over the past five years, Assam continues to rely on other states to fulfill its annual demand, which stands at approximately 5 lakh tonnes. The surge in production comes amidst a 25% rise in per capita consumption, highlighting the state's growing appetite for fish.
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Data released by the Directorate of Fisheries reveals that Assam produced 3.31 lakh tonnes of fish in the fiscal year 2018-19, a figure that rose to 4.43 lakh tonnes last year. However, to meet the escalating demand, the state procured 2.6 lakh tonnes of fish in the previous financial year, marking a substantial 116% increase compared to 2018-19. During the 2018-19 fiscal year, Assam imported 1.2 lakh tonnes of fish from other regions.
Ramendra Chandra Barman, Joint Director of the Directorate, while speaking to the media, emphasised the upward trajectory of fish consumption, predicting further growth in the years ahead. He underscored the importance of offering a diverse array of fish varieties at events like weddings and in establishments like hotels and restaurants to cater to the preferences of pescatarians. Barman noted that although river fish like rohu, katla, and mrigel carp are popular, large-sized fish from other states are also sourced to accommodate crowd preferences.
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However, Barman pointed out that Assam still faces challenges in producing large-sized fish due to unfavourable climatic conditions. He explained that the optimal temperature range for fish production, which falls between 29 and 32 degrees Celsius, is not consistently met in the state. This lack of ideal conditions hampers the metabolic rates of fish, resulting in lower productivity.