Bacha is one of the tastiest and most nutritious of Bangladesh's river fish, and one that farming can make a good business of.

• High-quality protein for growth and repair, good for children and the elderly.
• Omega-3 for the heart and for blood pressure.
• Vitamins and minerals for skin and hair.
• Calcium and phosphorus for bones and teeth.
• Vitamin D and antioxidants for immunity.

Summer and the monsoon are best, with water at 25–30 °C. A medium pond of 30–50 decimals with plenty of sun and a steady flow of water is ideal.

pH 6.5–8; dissolved oxygen 5–7 ppm; ammonia below 0.2 ppm.

Clear weeds and harmful insects; lime at 1 kg per decimal; fertilise with organic manure.

• Fry: 2–3 inch fingerlings from a reliable hatchery.
• Stocking: 400–500 per decimal, after checking the water.
• Feed: microfeed for the first fifteen days, then natural food with a supplement of broken rice, fish oil and mustard cake.
• Health: potassium permanganate or lime in the pond at intervals; a partial water change every 15–20 days; expert advice at the first sign of trouble.

The fish reach market size in six to eight months. Sold fresh, bacha fetches a price few pond fish can match.

Photo: Bacha (Eutropiichthys vacha), from Francis Day's plates — Francis Day and Suzini / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)