Farming of Indian Major Carp, the freshwater fishes in wetland region, popularly known as ’IMC,’ has been expanding in India. The present study was conducted using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and questionnaire survey to assess the present state of production of IMC, the freshwater fishes in wetland region in South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal, India. The socio-economic and technical survey on 80 wetlanders was conducted during May, 2021- April, 2022. Most of the farmers (78 nos.) had completed elementary level of schooling and had approximately five years of experience as owner and/or manager. Most of the respondents (12 nos.) obtained information on aquaculture from their neighbours and received no formal training. Polyculture with catfishes, prawns and Indian Major Carps was the dominant system (65 nos.), followed by monoculture. The most common management strategy included nursing of fingerlings for 45 to 60 days and harvesting with the combined method, culling only the largest market-sized individuals beginning at 9 months. Culture practices at the time of this survey were traditional or extensive. Very few farmers followed semi intensive culture system. Most farmers stocked at densities below 10 pieces m-2 and average production was 3,800 kg ha-1 yr-1. Commercially produced, nutritionally complete feed was most common, water exchange and aeration methods were used to maintain suitable water quality. Water quality management throughout the cycle was practised where respondents had the resources. Variables that significantly affected yearly gross IMC production (kg ha-1 yr-1) included feed inputs and stocking of IMC directly. Major problems identified were diseased or poor quality seed supply, disease outbreak within the crop, and external pollution. Most of the farms were operated by private owners. There is no much scope for additional income from other sources. There is need to provide an additional income generation source to the fishers of the target area based on the fisheries related activities which they will be able to take up with minimal technical advisory to the beneficiaries. Most of the farmers moving as migrant labour. Despite few possibilities of alternate livelihood such as high valued indigenous fish farming and freshwater ornamental fish culture which requires more skill and area of operation and possibility of sustainable income for the fishers and family. Hence, an alternate solution is needed with minimal effort and maximum benefit.
Keywords: Wetland, PRA, polyculture, monoculture, IMC, Socio-economic, fingerling.