Short Duration Fish Culture

Short duration fish culture is the system of raising IMC to a suitable table size (80-450g) fish in 80-90 days utilizing fish ponds before monsoon period (Pre-flood period)

1. Culture period: February to May
2. Pond preparation: By February
3. Water level: Minimum 1.5 m
4. Stocking: Yearlings
5. Fish species: Catla, Rohu, Mrigal
6. Species ratio: Catla – 40%, Rohu - 50%, Mrigal – 10%.
7. Stocking density: 4-5 fish/m3 (5000 nos./bigha).
8. Stocking size: Catla - 50-60g, Rohu - 30-40g, Mrigal – 20-30g
9. Feeds: MOC (Mustard oil cake) : RP (Rice polish) = 60:40
10. Feeding methods: Tray and bag feeding
11. Feeding rate: 1-5% body weight daily

Management practices: 25-30 kg initially for 1 bigha. Ideal pH 6.5-8.0. At every 10 days interval 2.0-2.5 kg/bigha based on pH level.

• Fertilization: RCD (Raw cow dung) (0.01 kg m -3) + MOC (0.035 kg m-3) + SSP (Single super phosphate) (0.025 kg m-3)
• Production: 800 – 850 kg of fish per bigha

Economics (Pond area 0.28 ha)

• B. Gross return
• Sale of 2500 kg fish @ Rs.130.00 per kg: Rs. 3, 25,000.00
• C. Net return ( B-A): Rs.1,68,500.00
• Cost of per kg fish production: Rs. 62.60
• Net profit per kg fish: Rs. 67.40

Table: Activities schedule