The State Government has established a Center of Excellence for Breeding and Seed Production at Wyra, Khammam.
Post Date – 11:30 PM, Sunday – 12/11/22
The Department of Fisheries plans to run a free catfish farming training program at the Center of Excellence in Khammam Wyra.
Hyderabad: The State Fisheries Department is now focusing on the extensive farming of Murrel (Korra Meenu), the national fish of Telangana, to reduce the consumption of hybrid species and promote the development of native species.
To this end, the department has established a Center of Excellence for breeding and seed production at Wyra, Khammam. Since July, the center has started breeding activities and has taken steps to train farmers in Murrell farming. The idea is to promote entrepreneurship among farmers.
Fisheries Commissioner Lachiram Bhukya said that given the state’s love for cuttlefish and the lucrative prices it brings to farmers, the department is taking steps to run a free cuttlefish farming training program at centers of excellence.
The three or four-day training will focus on the practical work of teaching farmers how to grow Murrel and supply the stock statewide, he said. The Center of Excellence is set on four acres, and training sessions will begin next July during the off-season. Farmers are usually busy during the harvest season, which runs from January to August, he said.
Although it is a national fish, there is no scientific breeding concept, and farmers only breed naturally. Because sea rats are known to be cannibalistic, many farmers tend to avoid farming them on a large scale, especially given the high input costs. To help farmers adopt scientific farming methods, the Ministry of Fisheries now plans to hold training courses.
In addition to this, many private farms are supplying hybrid varieties due to the high demand for Murrel. Mostly, the supply of hybrids comes from some farms in neighboring Andhra Pradesh and Nalgonda.
