Intensive Aquaculture in Ponds and Tanks

Components of Assistance

The NFDB will assist the following five components to support intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks

• Intensive aquaculture in existing ponds and tanks
• Intensive aquaculture in new ponds and tanks
• First-year one time inputs for intensive aquaculture in ponds and tanks.
• Establishment of hatcheries for production of fish seed.
• Establishment of fish seed rearing units for production of fish fingerlings.
• Training and demonstration.

Eligibility criteria

Intensive aquaculture in existing ponds and tanks

• Past performance of the farmer in undertaking freshwater aquaculture.
• Willingness/ entrepreneurship of the farmer to take up fish culture on scientific lines.
• Assurance / Willingness of the farmer to invest working capital money from 2^nd year onwards obtained from the sale of the first crop duly utilizing the NFDB assistance towards the first year input costs.
• Bank’s consent to provide the loan/ commitment of the farmer to invest 80% of the unit cost on his own.

Intensive aquaculture in new ponds and tanks

• Past performance of the farmer in freshwater aquaculture including record of his/ her training in the said activity.
• Willingness/ entrepreneurship of the farmer to take up fish culture on scientific lines.
• Clear title of the land.
• If pond/ tank taken on lease, a minimum lease period of 10 years would be preferred.
• Assurance / Willingness of the farmer to invest working capital money from 2^nd year onwards obtained from the sale of the first crop duly utilizing the NFDB assistance towards the first year input costs.
• Bank’s consent to provide the loan / commitment of the farmer to invest 80% of the unit cost on his own.

First-year inputs

• The support towards first year inputs will be available for one time to farmers, those who have availed assistance for construction/renovation ponds/tanks

Establishment of hatcheries for production of fish seed

The following criteria will be used for selection of entrepreneurs/farmers for setting up of fish hatcheries:

• Existing aquaculture areas, which are presently deficit in seed production but otherwise promising.
• New areas of aquaculture where seed might be a constraint.
• The prospective entrepreneurs/ farmers should preferably have received training in hatchery operations.
• Willingness/ entrepreneurship to take up fish seed production on scientific lines.
• Clear title of the land where the hatchery would be set up.
• If land taken on lease, a minimum lease period of 10 years would be preferred.
• Commitment of the farmer to contribute towards working capital money.
• Bank’s consent to provide the loan /commitment of the entrepreneur to invest 80% of the unit cost on his own.

Establishment of Fish seed rearing units for production of fish fingerlings

The following criteria will be used to select farmers/entrepreneurs for subsidy to take up creation of infrastructure facilities for rearing spawn/fry to fingerlings in earthen ponds:

• Past performance of the farmer in freshwater hatchery /aquaculture including record of his/ her training in the said activity.
• Willingness/ entrepreneurship of the farmer to take up fish seed rearing to fingerlings on scientific lines.
• Adequate water facility throughout the year.
• Clear title of the land.
• If pond/ tank taken on lease, a minimum lease period of 10 years would be preferred.
• Willingness of the farmer to contribute towards working capital.
• Bank’s consent to provide the loan/commitment of the entrepreneur to invest 80% of the unit cost on his own.

Pattern of Assistance

Source: National Fisheries Development Board