Over the past decade, aquaculture in Nepal has experienced steady growth, with annual increases of 3-4 %. However, the potential for more rapid expansion is constrained by the limited availability and access to high-quality fry and fingerlings for stocking. This assessment aimed to evaluate the status and challenges of fish seed production in Nepal and to provide foundational training on the seed production of Pangasius hypophthalmus and Oreochromis niloticus.
The three-week assessment comprised a comprehensive desktop review, visits to hatcheries and fish farms, and several focus group discussions with farmer groups, hatchery operators, and government and extension organizations. Seed production training was conducted for 60 participants (across three batches) at the Fisheries Development Center (FDC) in Chitwan, the Aquaculture-Agriculture & Forestry University, and the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences in Bhairahawa. The training covered the breeding of both pangasius and tilapia, incorporating on-farm visits, presentations, and discussions on broodstock management, breeding techniques, larval rearing, and live food production.
Hatcheries primarily produce carp in semi-intensive systems, with only a few producers of pangasius and tilapia fry and fingerlings. Fish seed supply is limited and seasonal, despite increasing demand, with highly variable quality. The quality of tilapia and pangasius fingerlings imported from across the border is inconsistent, with mortality rates ranging from 35-70%. Genetically known strains of broodstock are limited to a few government facilities and are not available to hatcheries. There is a general lack of knowledge and skills in broodstock management, breeding, and hatchery operations, particularly concerning tilapia and pangasius seed production.
The recommendations included establishing centralized national broodstock centers to maintain, improve (through strain selection and selective breeding), and disseminate high-quality broodstock fry and fingerlings to public and private hatcheries. Enhancing the technical capacity of hatchery managers and technicians is crucial. Modernizing facilities, including essential hatchery equipment and management plans, is also necessary. Developing and implementing seed quality assurance mechanisms, such as seed certification, will help ensure the consistency and reliability of fish seed quality.
The key findings and recommendations from this assessment were provided to USAID’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program to support further advancement of aquaculture production in southern Nepal.