SEMI-INTENSIVE FARMING OF CARPS IN 0.28 HECTARE POND U. K.

Baruah Senior Scientist Fisheries Research Centre Assam Agricultural University Jorhat 785 013, Assam Traditional fish farming prevalent in the eastern sector of India in the homestead ponds gave birth to extensive fish culture, when fry and fingerlings collected from natural resources were stocked in ponds, large or small, in other parts of the country and the crop harvested at the end of the year. Research and development activities initiated at different research centers led to development seed production technology. Increasing demand for protein food required increasing production through fish culture both in terms of volume by covering as large a network of ponds/tanks as possible as well increasing production per unit area. Research investigations in the 1950s and early 60s resulted in developing the nursery and rearing pond management techniques leading to increasing the survival rates of fry and fingerling that laid a solid foundation for the 3-tier system of fish culture. Experiments on development of grow-out techniques that began in mid-sixties gave an indication of the possibilities of obtaining six to eight times higher production than was obtaining from the extensive culture system current in other parts of the country where fish culture was initiated prior to or soon after independence. Attention was paid to (1) enhance the natural productivity of the pond water through fertilization kind and dosages of fertilizers and manures and frequency of their application, (2) species of fish to be stocked their compatibility and density, size and proportions, and (3) supplementary feed to, at least, partly meet the food and nutritional requirements of the fish stock kind and quality of feedstuffs, their proportions as well as quantity to be provided and the frequency of feeding. This laid the basis of scientific fish farming in the India with trials under an All India Coordinated Research Project that began in 1971 and made fish farming popular almost allover the country. SEMI-INTENSIVE CARP FARMING While extensive fish culture is based purely on the natural or inherent pond productivity, semi-intensive fish culture makes judicious use of both fertilizers/manures and supplementary feed. The main accent under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Indian and Exotic Fish Culture operated during 1971-1985 at 12 different centers from the northwest (Haryana) to the northeast (Assam), from the west (Maharashtra) to the east (Orrisa) and the south (Tamilnadu) was on increasing fish production per unit area and this it did achieve in a sufficiently large measure. Based on soil qualities, a standard was developed for fertilization that was sought to be modified depending upon the local soil characteristics at different centers across the country but continued investigations were not made and hence conclusive results not obtained. Liming to increase the soil pH was, of course, based on the recommendations of Schaeperclaus but no attempts were made to consider the type of soil. Stocking densities were arbitrarily fixed and so were the proportions, the main emphasis being on those that grew fast and attained large sizes. Thus silver carp and grass

carp reigned supreme followed by calla but its proportion, hence numbers, was reduced to one third whereby it made a much lower contribution to the total production. Finally, the 6species combination had densities ranging from 4,000 to 10,000/ha with the three exotic species contributing as much as 70% of the total stocking density. His, however, did not find much favour with the farmers as the seed of the exotic Chinese carps was not easily available then coupled with natural feed for grass carp that had to be collected from long distances at considerable cost and labour. Moreover, the market demand for these two species as well as that for common carp was poor and their prices compared to that of the Indian major carps low. Further experiments were conducted with combinations involving 3-species (catla, rohu and mrigal), 4- species (catla, rohu, mrigal and common carp) and 5- species (catla, rohu, mrigal, common carp and either silver carp or grass carp) to exclude those that did not find favour with the farmers. Initially the use of supplementary feed was based on an empirical formula as neither the gross feed nor nutritional requirements were known. Feeding rates from 1-2%, 2-5% to as high as 5-10% were used. However, based on a series of experiments and field trials, the follwing package was accepted and suggested for a production target of 5t1ha/yr. 1. Pond size and depth of water : 1 ha; average depth of water 1.5 m in summer months. 2. Pond preparation : 2500 kg mahua oil cake or 350 kg bleaching powder/ham. 3. Pond Fertilization : 10-15 t of raw cow dung or 5t of poultry manure/ha/yr at fortnightly intervals. 4. Stocking density : 5,000 fingerlings/ha in the proportion of calla 20 : silver carp 15: rohu 20: grass carp 10; common carp 15. 5. Supplementary feeding : Groundnut oilcake and rice bran (1:1 mixture) at 1-3% of fish biomass. 6. Harvest : First harvest between October to December as soon as the fish are above 1 kg (silver carp, calla and common carp); only 50% of the grass carp to be removed; Second harvest in March or else final harvest in May/June. Some interesting observations were made during these trials. A marked change in the growth of all the species of fish was noted in the experimental ponds between two months separated by a spell of floods at the Guwahati center of the AICRP. The ponds ere protected by nylon mosquito-netting so that no fish could either escape or enter. The difference in growth before and after floods varied from 150-300 g in different species. This made a considerable difference in production rate/ha in just one month. Another instance of high yield rates can be quoted from the Karnal center where the seepage rate was very high and water from the tube well was taken daily to top up the losses amounting to about 30 cm. Despite a low density of 4,000 fingerlings/ha and a rearing period of 8 months, almost all the six species of fish registered weights of over 1 kg. With grass carp, silver carp and common carp even up to 2 kg. The overall production rates varies from 6-8 t/ha/8-9 months. In such a situation, supper phosphate used at 1,000 kg/ha was certainly a total waste. Like in Eurpean countries where the duration of fish culture lasts from 5 to 7 months only owing a long cold spell, it was noted that a slightly longer duration of 8-9 months from February/March to November/December was the most appropriate period for this belt that experienced considerably low temperatures, at least, for two months.

The third example is from the Pune center where the seepage losses were regularly made up by filling with canal water. About one-third of the total quantity of water lost in a month was thus replenished with fresh water every month. The stocking density was 10,000 fingerlings/ha and the three exotic carps constituted 70% of the total density. No wonder the production was 10 t/ha/yr. The farms in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab that produce 10-13t of fish/ha/yr are variants of the semi-intensive system with different methods of feeding and fertilization besides aeration and water exchange as additional inputs. Semi-intensive systems are highly expensive as feed costs along contribute to about 60-70% of the operational costs. TECHNOLOGY PACKAGE FOR ASSAM 1. Pond size and depth of water : Minimum 0.28 ha with average depth of water 1.5 m throughout the year. 2. Pond liming : 145 kg agricultural lime before stocking and 44 kg per month after stocking. 3. Pond Fertilization : 560 kg raw cow dung before stocking and 280 kg per month after stocking. 7 kg urea and 5.6 kg single super phosphate every month. 4. Stocking density : 1540 stunted yearlings in the proportion of silver carp 20%, catla 15%, rohu 15%, grass carp 10%, mrigal 20% and common carp 20%. 5. Supplementary feeding : Formulated feed (Sushama). 1.5 kg feed converts to 1 kg fish. 6. Harvest : First harvest between September-October as soon as the fish are above ! kg. All fishes above 1 kg may be caught in subsequent nettings. Economics : Total estimated cost is 163100.00. Expected annual return is Rs.90000.00 from sale of 1500 kg fishes. Detail analyses of the project are given in the subsequent pages. Cost estimate A) Investment cost Pond construction/0.28ha with 2.5 m average 1 no. depth Sub Total B) Cost of implements, equipments & machineries Hapa 2 nos. Drag nets 1 no. Sub total Total investment cost C) Operational cost Wages/salary 1 no. Lime 590 kg Fish seed 1550 Feed 2350 kg POL etc. Total operational costs

45/cu.m

94,500.00 94,500.00

200 each 5000 each

400.00 5,000.00 5,400.00 99,900.00 24,000.00 2,950.00 7,750.00 23,500.00 5,000.00 63,200.00

2000/month 5/kg 5 each 10/kg Ls

Break-even analysis A) Investment cost Pond construction/0.28ha with 2.5 m average 1 no. depth Sub Total B) Cost of implements, equipments & machineries Hapa 2 nos. Drag nets 1 no. Sub total Total investment cost C) Operational cost Wages/salary 1 no. Lime 590 kg Fish seed 1550 Feed 2350 kg POL etc. Sub total Interest on working capital i) Depreciation on pond ii) Depreciation on nets Interest on fixed capital Total operational cost Interest Depreciation Salary and wages Utilities Misc. expenditure Break even point 45/cu.m 94,500.00 94,500.00 200 each 5000 each 400.00 5,000.00 5,400.00 99,900.00 24,000.00 2,950.00 7,750.00 23,500.00 5,000.00 63,200.00 5,688.00 5,670.00 900.00 8,991.00 21,249.00 8,991.00 6,570.00 9,600.00 2,000.00 34,200.00 61,361.00 45.00

2000/month 5/kg 5 each 10/kg Ls

9% 40% 40%

Cash flows analysis of a semi intensive carp farming project (0.28 ha water area) Years Cash out flow Cash in flow Present value of cash out flow at 10% discount rate Value Factor Product Item 1.00 94500.00 57454.55 Table fish 5221.40 Table fish 47483.10 Table fish 43166.45 Table fish 39242.23 Table fish 35674.75 Table fish 32431.59 Table fish 29483.27 Table fish 26802.97 Table fish 24366.34 Table fish 0.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 Present value of cash in flow at Net cash 15% discount rate flow Factor 1.000 0.943 0.890 0.840 0.792 0.747 0.705 0.665 0.627 0.592 0.558 Product Present value of net cash flow at discount rate

Item 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Infrastructure & implements Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost + pond rennovation Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost Operational cost + pond rennovation

Value 94500.00

Factor Product Factor Product (6%) (10%) 0.00 - 1.0000 -94500.00 1.0000 -94500.00 94500.00 25283.02 0.9091 23851.90 0.8264 22501.80 0.7513 21228.11 0.6830 20026.52 0.6209 18892.94 0.5645 17823.53 0.5132 16814.65 0.4665 15862.88 0.4241 14964.98 0.3855 24363.64 22148.76 20135.24 18304.76 16640.69 15127.90 13752.64 12502.40 11365.82 10332.56

63200.00 0.91 63200.00 0.83 63200.00 0.75 63200.00 0.68 63200.00 0.62 63200.00 0.56 63200.00 0.51 63200.00 0.47 63200.00 0.42 63200.00 0.39

84905.66 26800.00 0.9434 80099.68 26800.00 0.8900 75565.74 26800.00 0.8396 71288.43 26800.00 0.7921 67253.24 26800.00 0.7473 63446.45 26800.00 0.7050 59855.14 26800.00 0.6651 56467.11 26800.00 0.6274 53270.86 26800.00 0.5919 50255.53 26800.00 0.5584

11

Operational 63200.00 cost 12 Operational 63200.00 cost 13 Operational 63200.00 cost 14 Operational 63200.00 cost 15 Operational 63200.00 cost + pond rennovation Present value of cash out flow

0.35 0.32 0.29 0.26 0.24

22151.21 Table fish 20137.47 Table fish 18306.79 Table fish 16642.54 Table fish 15129.58 Table fish

90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00

0.527 0.497 0.469 0.442 0.417

47410.88 26800.00 0.5268 44727.24 26800.00 0.4970 42195.51 26800.00 0.4688 39807.09 26800.00 0.4423 37553.86 26800.00 0.4173 874102.41 NPV IRR Benefit Cost Ratio

14117.91 0.3505 13318.78 0.3186 12564.89 0.2897 11853.67 0.2633 11182.70 0.2394 165788.27

9393.24 8539.24 7763.01 7057.28 6415.71 109342.93 17.75 1.52

575204.22 Present value of cash in flow

Repayment schedule
Years 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Gross income 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 Net income 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 90000.00 Bank loan Principal Working capital 99900.00 93240.00 86580.00 79920.00 73260.00 66600.00 59940.00 53280.00 46620.00 39960.00 33300.00 26640.00 19980.00 63200.00 58986.67 54773.34 50560.01 46346.68 42133.35 37920.02 33706.69 29493.36 25280.03 21066.70 16853.37 12640.04 Interest (@ 9%) Principal Working capital 8991.00 8391.60 7792.20 7192.80 6593.40 5994.00 5394.60 4795.20 4195.80 3596.40 2997.00 2397.60 5688.00 5308.80 4929.60 4550.40 4171.20 3792.00 3412.80 3033.60 2654.40 2275.20 1896.00 1516.80 Repayment of principal 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 6660.00 Repayment interest Repayment On On of working Principal working capital amount capital 4213.33 8991.00 5688.00 4213.33 8391.60 5308.80 4213.33 7792.20 4929.60 4213.33 7192.80 4550.40 4213.33 6593.40 4171.20 4213.33 5994.00 3792.00 4213.33 5394.60 3412.80 4213.33 4795.20 3033.60 4213.33 4195.80 2654.40 4213.33 3596.40 2275.20 4213.33 2997.00 1896.00 4213.33 2397.60 1516.80 Total repayment Amount refundable

280532.03 25552.33 254979.70 24573.73 230405.97 23595.13 206810.84 22616.53 184194.31 21637.93 162556.38 20659.33 141897.05 19680.73 122216.32 18702.13 103514.18 17723.53 85790.65 16744.93 69045.72 15766.33 53279.39 14787.73 38491.65

13

90000.00

90000.00 13320.00

8426.71

1798.20

1137.60

6660.00

4213.33

1798.20

1137.60

13809.13

24682.52

14 15

90000.00 90000.00 6660.00 4213.38 90000.00 90000.00 0.00 0.00

1198.80 758.40 599.40 379.20 71928.00 45504.03

6660.00 6660.00 99900.00

4213.33 1198.80 758.40 12830.53 11851.98 4213.33 599.40 379.20 11851.93 0.00 63199.95 71928.00 45504.03 280537.98

Analysis of Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)

Accruals Net profit Interest Depreciation Total Commitment Installment 0 yr 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1 yr 26800.00 14697.00 6570.00 48067.00 25552.33
st

2 yr 26800.00 13700.40 6570.00 47070.40 24573.73 13700.40 38274.13 1.23

nd

3 yr 26800.00 12721.80 6570.00 46091.80 23595.13 12721.80 36316.93 1.27

rd

4 yr 26800.00 11743.20 6570.00 45113.20 22616.53 11743.20 34359.73 1.31

th

5 yr 26800.00 10764.60 6570.00 44134.60 21637.93 10764.60 32402.53 1.36

th

6 yr 26800.00 9786.00 6570.00 43156.00 20659.33 9786.00 30445.33 1.42

th

7 yr 26800.00 8807.40 6570.00 42177.40 19680.73 8807.40 28488.13 1.48

th

8 yr 26800.00 7828.80 6570.00 41198.80 18702.13 7828.80 26530.93 1.55

th

9 yr 26800.00 6850.20 6570.00 40220.20 17723.53 6850.20 24573.73 1.64

th

10 yr 26800.00 5871.60 6570.00 39241.60 16744.93 5871.60 22616.53 1.74

th

11 yr 26800.00 4893.00 6570.00 38263.00 15766.33 4893.00 20659.33 1.85

th

12 yr 26800.00 3914.40 6570.00 37284.40 14787.73 3914.40 18702.13 1.99

th

13 yr 26800.00 2935.80 6570.00 36305.80 13809.13 2935.80 16744.93 2.17

th

14 yr 26800.00 1957.20 6570.00 35327.20 12830.53 1957.20 14787.73 2.39

th

15 yr 26800.00 978.60 6570.00 34348.60 11851.93 978.60 12830.53 2.68

th

Interest 0.00 14697.00 Total 0.00 40249.33 DSCR 0.00 1.19 Average DSCR = 1:1.7

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