Kollam: A young doctor has scripted success story through Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) here. Koottikada native Dr Devi Chand (33), audiologist and psychologist at Sanker's Hospital in Kollam, thought about fish farming after finding it difficult to get fish during the lockdown.
Though the doctor was already cultivating vegetables, growing fish was done on an experimental basis through the Matsya Sampada Yojana scheme. After five months, the doctor could harvest a tank full of fish. MLA Noushad inaugurated the first harvest.
Fish farm was arranged in a 25-cent land at house compound. A total of 8000 fingerlings were deposited in three tanks with 35,000-litre capacity. Among them, the fish that weigh from 340-400 grams are now ready for harvest.
The fish were categorized on the basis of size and were shifted to different tanks.
Fish is sold for Rs 260 per kilogram on wholesale and Rs 350 on retail. About Rs 7.5 lakh is spent for cultivating fish in 100 cubic metre space. 40 percent of the expense is subsidised by the government.
In RAS method, the water is purified by growing bacteria in the waterbody. The microbes turn the ammonia in water into nitrates and keep the water clean. The farming system functions with the help of electricity.
Dr Devi Chand opined that anyone can easily manage RAS method of fish farming without seeking help from others. Apart from fish farming, the doctor also manages vegetable cultivation using low amount of water.
