Women of self-help groups farming fish organically have been promised a range of support by the block administration.

Three hundred families, mostly women, joined the organic fish farming project. According to administration sources, they made a profit of about Rs 2 lakh in a year from it.

The Hingalganj block administration named the project 'Jalpari'. According to administration sources, after Cyclone Aila much of the land in remote parts of the Sundarbans became infertile. A year ago some people of Govindakati panchayat in Hingalganj decided, with the support of the Hingalganj block and panchayat samiti, to farm fish organically on that land instead of growing crops. Women of 30 self-help groups began the fish farming at first. Hingalganj joint BDO Saugata Biswas said: "Many families have benefited from organic fish farming."

A woman from one of the self-help groups explained that other methods usually use urea, potash and other chemical fertilisers, which make fish grow faster than normal. In the organic method no chemicals are used; cow dung, oil cake, lime, gram flour and broken rice and bran are used instead, so the fish grow naturally. The fish are also safe for health.

Recently the pradhan of Govindakati panchayat and the BDO and joint BDO of Hingalganj met the women of the self-help groups to discuss the project's strengths and problems, including how to get the fish to various markets quickly. The women said they benefit greatly when the administration helps them with fish and other supplies. Speaking for one self-help group, Swapna Majhi said: "We have benefited from farming fish under the Jalpari project. What we need now is government help and access to particular markets in town to sell the fish."

The block administration assured the women that the project would be linked with other departments, and promised that they would get every facility for fish farming. According to block sources, if the Govindakati project succeeds, there are plans to start Jalpari in the Bishpur, Rupmari and Jogeshganj panchayat areas too. The block is also looking at sending the fish to markets in Hingalganj and across Basirhat subdivision.

How does Jalpari fish taste? Bilasranjan Mondal, a Govindakati resident and doctor by profession, said: "I have eaten this fish. It is very tasty and healthy too. But because it is farmed organically, the price is slightly higher."

Source: Anandabazar. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.