To meet the demands of indigenous fish and other vegetables, the state fishery department is organising the first Emoinu Fish Fair on January 3, 2023 at Hapta Kangjeibung, said Fishery Minister Heikham Dingo.
Since the forefathers, fish has been one of the main ingredients during the Emoinu festival however, people have been offering iced-packed, imported fish to ‘Emoinu’ (local deity of wealth and prosperity), the minister said.
So, to promote local fish farmers the department will be organising the fish fair during each Emoinu festival, Dingo said and added that the state fish fair will be organised two times annually – one during Emoinu festival and the other one day ahead of Ningol Chakouba festival.
He said one of the uniqueness of the Emoinu fish festival is the fair will be a ‘one stop solution’ where people will be given opportunity to buy locally reared, indigenous fish including ‘Sareng’ (Wallago Attu) at government fixed rates; vegetables and other items which is used while offering to Emoinu.
He said the ‘one stop solution’ Emoinu Fish Festival will not only bring feasibility to the public but it will also help to reduce traffic congestion in Imphal City.
Director of the department of fishery, H Balkrishna Singh said the rate of fish will be the same as were fixed during the recent fish fair held a day head Ningol Chakouba. He said the department has fixed the price of fishes to be sold during the festival and the department is targeting to produce around 2,000 kilograms of locally rear ‘Sareng’ and 50,000 kilogram of other fishes in total.
Balkrishna said Catla Rs 210 for below 2 kg, Rs 270 for 2kg and above, Rs 350 for 5kg and above; Rohu Rs 220 for below 1 kg, Rs 280 for 1kh and above, Rs 350 for 2 kg and above; Mirgal Rs 220 for below 1kg, Rs 280 for 1kg and above, Rs 350 for 2kg and above; Common Carp Rs 200 for below 1kg; Rs 250 for 1kg and above, Rs 280 for 2kg and above; grass carp Rs 230 for below 2 kg, Rs 280 for 2kg and above, Rs 310 for 3kg and above, Rs 350 for 5 kg and above; silver carp Rs 180 for below 3 kg, Rs 200 for 3 kg and above; Pengba/Khabak Rs 450 for below 300 gm, Rs 550 for above 300 gm; Ngaton Rs 450 per kg; Ngahei Rs 220 for 1kg and above, Rs 300 for 3 kg and above; Ukabi (Anabus) Rs 350 per kg; Prorom (Murrel) Rs 300 per kg and Tunghanbi (Tilapia) Rs 150 per kg.
For locally reared Sareng, the price will be the same as that of the recent Ningol Chakouba which is Rs 1,200 per kg, he added.
Responding to the media on the high price of locally rear ‘Sareng’, Balkrishna said the Sareng fish fingerlings are imported to the state from other states and neighbouring countries. While rearing Sareng, they are given small fishes as their feed instead of manufactured fish feed.
Also, during transportation the mortality rate of fish fingerlings is also high however, to solve the issue the state fishery department is experimenting to produce Sareng fish fingerlings locally. The state can get cheap ‘Sareng’ if the experiment on producing Sareng fingerling becomes successful, he added.
The Emoinu fish festival will start from 9 am and will continue till late evening, said director department of fishery.
Meanwhile, Dingo who is also minister in-charge of fisheries as well as skill, labour, employment and entrepreneurship, wished people of Manipur a bandh free peaceful year with the coming of 2023.
He wished the upcoming year to be free from bandh, blockade, strike and bring peace, harmony and integrity among the people of Manipur irrespective of caste, religion and community.
ALSO READ: First Emoinu Fish Festival in January 2023
