IMPHAL, October 24: The Ningol Chakouba `Fish Fair-cum-Firsh Crop Competition, 2014`\u2122 was inaugurated by Commerce and Industry minister Govindas Konthoujam as the chief guest today at Mapal Kangjeibung.<\/p>\n
The function also was attended by Agriculture and Fisheries minister, Md Abdul Nasir, as the function president while chief secretary PC Lawmkunga and commissioner of Fisheries, Y Jugindro Singh attended as the guests of honour.<\/p>\n
Delivering his chief guest speech, Govindas Konthoujam revealed that Manipur is able to produce only 28,000 metric tonne of fish against the State`\u2122s requirement of 48,000 MT but added that the shortage of 20,000 MT can be met locally for fish farmers in the State have the potential to produce this shortage.<\/p>\n
The minister further divulged that the Government has taken up initiative to include import of fish from Myanmar besides the 62 items already approved in the border trade agreement.<\/p>\n
The director of fisheries K Saratkumar Singh in his key note address said that the department has been organising fish fair-cum-fish crop competition since 1975 with the main objective to enhance fish production and to ease the shortages especially at the time of Chakouba.<\/p>\n
Informing that fish farmers are encouraged by providing cash awards to the maximum fish producers, he said that a cash award of Rs. 60,000 is provided as first prize, Rs. 40,000 as second prize and Rs.30,000 as third prize and Rs. 5000 each as consolation prizes.<\/p>\n
Further Saratkumar, opined that ever since the fish fair was started in 1975, this year is the first time that the Chief Secretary of Manipur has participated.<\/p>\n
Altogether 90 fish stalls were opened to sell fish brought from across the entire length and breadth of the State.<\/p>\n
The fair organised by the Directorate of Fisheries.<\/p>\n
Ngaton and Pengba at Rs. 650 each per kg, command the highest price in the fair.<\/p>\n\n