Ramitha Dinu and Dinu Thankan, an Ernakulam native couple, began fish farming, not as an extra source of income, but to cope with the financial imbalance caused by the outbreak. Even though Dinu managed a small business and Ramitha worked as a part-time French tutor, they struggled to gain a stable income.
During the 2020 lockdown, a family friend introduced them to Biofloc technology in fish farming. Shaji, the former deputy director of the Central Fisheries Research Center, was well-versed in this method. The couple built a tank in their backyard with his professional advice and filled it with 1,500 Tilapia fish babies.
"Within six months, each fish had grown to a weight of 350-400 gm on average." "The first harvest was gone in the blink of an eye, and we were able to sell them for Rs 300 per kg," Ramitha adds.
Their initial consumers were members of the neighborhood WhatsApp group. They also delivered clean fish to their door for an extra Rs 50. It's almost time for the second harvest, and they're both working hard to get prepared.
Investments and Set-up for Biofloc Fish Farming
The couple spent roughly Rs 1.6 lakh to construct the tank, buy fish, and other necessities. They were given a subsidy, followed by a farming license. The fisheries department supplied the fish babies, which were carefully relocated to the tank created according to the specifications.
An 8-meter-diameter, a 1.5-foot-high tank can house up to 2,000 fish babies. Because it is an artificial setup, the entire farming procedure must be done carefully. For a healthy yield, pH and ammonia levels must be checked regularly.
The Wonder of Biofloc Technology
"Biofloc technology may appear complicated, but it is rather simple. Profit is guaranteed if done with interest and attention," Dinu says. "Before introducing the babies, crystal raw salt is added into the tested water." To create artificial oxygen, we must ensure that electricity is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As a result, an inverter with an extra battery is required. The pH and ammonia concentrations in the water should be checked regularly, and if there is any difference, there are easy solutions to correct it, such as adding jaggery."
The farmer explains that Tilapia fish has a high immune system and can survive in dirty water, but its taste is peculiar. "The best reaction I've had so far has been from elderly people who say the fish tastes just like the ones they remember from their childhood, unadulterated and delicious," he continues.
Dinu gives the fish food twice a day. "The food is organic and high in protein and fiber," he adds, adding, "I feed the fishes every day at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and it's a pleasure to watch them." They consume a huge amount of food in a matter of a few seconds. Usually, friends or neighbors show up to catch a glimpse of this routine."
The couple made a profit of Rs 1 lakh by selling more than 600 kg of fish in the first harvest only, and they are currently constructing a new tank adjacent to the old one to extend their farming business.
