Sikkim farmers learn trout farming techniques at Srinagar workshop

Srinagar , Tue, 05 Jun 2012 ANI

Srinagar, June 5 (ANI): Fish farmers from Sikkim are attending a weeklong workshop on trout farming in Srinagar to learn the new techniques of fish farming.
The Kashmir Valley, which is famous for trout, is also known as an angler's paradise due to the abundance of the fish. A large number of locals and foreigners also indulge in fish farming.
The Deputy Director of the state Fisheries Department, Bashir Ahmad Bhat, said the workshop would help in the promotion of trout farming in Sikkim.
"We are happy as the delegation that has arrived is learning the technical aspects of trout farming. They toured the valley and visited various districts and they watched our activities. The technical experts held interaction with the trainees and imparted information. We are happy that they are satisfied with the workshop. They will reap benefits of this training and the technology they have learned, so that this trout culture flourishes in their province," said Bhat.
The farmers from Sikkim visited trout farms in Dachigam, Manasbal and Kokernag. They interacted with experts, who taught them new techniques.
The farmers were taught specific techniques including breading, feeding, and cleaning of ponds.
"Half of us are progressive farmers in Sikkim and a few are new comers, who are unemployed youth. They have a huge farm spread in a large area, but in our area we do not have such a big farm. Our objective of this visit is to learn the process of trout farming about rainbow trout and brown trout," said Gori Mukhya, a fish farmer from Sikkim.
The British introduced trout, a highly nutritious fish, in the Kashmir Valley for angling during colonial rule. Subsequently, the first trout hatchery was established at Harwan, situated on the outskirts of summer capital Srinagar in 1901. (ANI)