Imphal: A historic breakthrough in the fisheries sector has been achieved in Manipur, overcoming a significant scientific challenge in the aquaculture world. Local fish farmers, in collaboration with officials from the Department of Fisheries, Manipur, have successfully performed induced breeding of Sareng (Wallago attu) using a combination of indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) and scientific methods.
This accomplishment is notable because there is no widely practiced breeding protocol for Wallago attu, locally known as Sareng, as scientific hatchery techniques for its seed production have not been widely adopted.
Chungkham Kopeshwor Singh, a progressive Sareng fish farmer, led this rare scientific feat at his fish farm in Wangoi Makha Leikai, Imphal West District. He, along with associates Kulajit Hijam of Sagolnad Tera Tongbram Leikai and Ningthoujam Basanta Singh of Khordak village, combined their indigenous technical ideas with the infrastructural support and scientific guidance provided by the State Fisheries Department.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh announced the revival of Sareng, an extinct fish species once abundant in Manipur’s freshwater bodies and cherished for its extraordinary taste and health benefits, during the State Level National Fish Farmers Day celebration on July 10, 2021.
Following this announcement, the Department of Fisheries, Manipur, initiated the Sareng Project as a Pilot Project to popularize the fish through pond culture practices. The initial challenge of importing Sareng seeds from Bangladesh and Myanmar by surface and air was tackled by the State Fisheries Department, which facilitated local fish farmers interested in rearing Sareng. The first display of homegrown live Sareng fish was made during the State Level Fish Crop Festival in November 2021, on the eve of the Ningol Chakouba festival.
The growing interest among fish farmers led to the open sale of 2400 kilos of live Sareng cultured indigenously the following year. The local populace was overjoyed at the revival of Meitei Sareng, gathering in large numbers at the Fish Mela despite the hefty prices.
The local Sareng’s popularity motivated both farmers and officials to explore scientific methods to propagate seeds, as the affordability of imported seeds was a concern. Driven by public demand, several attempts at induced breeding were made, though the survival rate of seed larvae was initially low.
Undeterred by these challenges, local fish farmers and fishery officials persevered, combining their accumulated knowledge and experience until they finally achieved success in induced breeding.
