BACKGROUND

The Seasonal tanks in Karnataka are rarely used for fish culture.  Community-based fish culture in seasonal tanks founded on the principles of Tank User Groups (TUGs) working together has been an effective tool for implementing scientific fish culture programmes in Karnataka.  Fish culture in seasonal tanks to reduce poverty and migration by improving rural livelihoods as well as improving the socio-economic conditions of the villages in Karnataka was demonstrated involving landless, SCs, STs & OVGs – including women who share common interest.

Objective:

To promote another IGA for members of local tank Communities who have little or no access to land in tank command areas.

Target Group: Landless & poor small marginal farmers including women.

• The project proposes to cover about 2005 tanks coming under 6 agro-climatic zones of the state in 34 talukas of the 9 project districts which are mainly drought prone areas.  Fishery enterprises will be promoted in about 600 feasible tanks (30%).

• Fisheries Enterprises would be promoted in about 900 tanks (75% of total tanks covering 37 talukas of 08 districts in 05 Agro Climatic Zones) for Follow-on-project.

 Project Opportunities and Benefits extended to TUGs:

• Provision of inputs required for Fish production, in terms of fish fingerlings for the first operation.

• Lease rents for taking fishing rights to landless and poor beneficiaries groups.

• Equipments for harvest such as Coracle and nets, as well as fish screens wherever necessary.

• Fisheries training courses through FFDA to reach selected beneficiaries drawn from TUGs (@ 4 men & 4 women on an average from each TUG).

• Rehabilitation/Construction of two nos, nursery rearing ponds of one ha., each.

• Technical Support for tank user fishing groups & monitoring of fish production-in the tanks (with the help by district & taluka fisheries department Staff).

• Creation of Dead Storage below sill level through De-siltation to about 1-1.5m depth for fisheries development and other uses.

Socio – Economic Survey

• Identifying Presence of Fishermen Community and

• If Fishermen Co-operative Societies (FCS) is present in the area,

• Enrolling of FCS into TUGs, as members (G.O. pasamvi/102/MEE/2006, Dated: 12.12.2006).

• TUGs should take interest in selecting beneficiaries in the Grama Sabha.

• TUGs should be enlightened about fisheries leasing policy and Revenue share (is important for O&M and to sustain institution) between TUGs and beneficiaries.

Feasibility criteria for selection of tanks for Fisheries Activity

• Minimum duration 6 months water holding.

• Minimum of one meter water depth.

• Soil/Water pH 6.5 to 9.0.

• Large independent Catchment area.

• Average slope of the Catchment area: Moderate/Gentle slope.

• Turbidity: Low/Medium.

Linkages with Line Departments - Pertaining to Fisheries Component  

• FFDA – Nodal Agency, Bellary : ToR for fisheries training (MoU signed on 10.08.2004).

• ToR with DoF, FFDA Kolar & Shimoga – for supply of required quality Advanced fish fingerlings to the project area (Tripartite Agreement signed 19.04.05).

• Specific linkages with line department – for active participation and close involvement of fisheries department with the project (Circular No: 01/75/07-08, dated: 12.12.2007.

• KCFF Mysore – for Fish Marketing Linkages.

 Fisheries Rights:  

After the intervention by the project, the Fisheries Department has revised policy on leasing of tanks for fisheries giving first priority to TUGs of JSYS and the lease period is extended from one year to five years. (G.O.No.166, dated: 15.01.2005).  Further, revision of policy on lease period is extended from 5 years to long term duration.  (G.O. No. 102, dated: 12.12.2006).  The Policy initiatives enabled TUGs to use tank for fisheries activities.

Table – 1

FISH PRODUCTION

Note: 2008-09, Balance = 1000 No. of Beneficiaries.

Note: Year 2008-09, Balance = 600 No. of beneficiaries.  

Table -4