The 46th State-Level Fish Mela-cum-Fish Crop Competition 2025 was held on Wednesday at Hapta Kangjeibung, Palace Compound, Imphal East, drawing a large turnout of buyers and visitors ahead of the Ningol Chakkouba festival.
Organised by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Manipur, the annual event showcased a wide range of locally farmed fish varieties produced by fish farmers from across the state.
Vivek Kumar Dewangan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Manipur, graced the inaugural programme as Chief Guest, while Haobam Rosita, IAS, Commissioner of Fisheries, presided over the function.
Speaking at the event, Dewangan highlighted the government’s initiative to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) by allowing them to sell their produce at the fair free of charge, thereby promoting livelihood opportunities. He also urged the Fisheries Department to scale up production to achieve self-sufficiency in meeting Manipur’s domestic fish demand.
The Fisheries Department has set an ambitious target of selling 1.5 lakh kilograms of fish during this year’s fair. Popular varieties displayed included the local Shareng (freshwater shark), Pengba, Ngaton, Ngakra, Rohu, Catla, Mrigal, Grass Carp, and Silver Carp.
Director of Fisheries, Phulen Meitei, said the Mela serves as a vital platform for direct interaction between buyers and sellers, with regulated fish prices to ensure fairness and affordability. He noted that Manipur’s total fish demand stands at around 60,000 metric tonnes, of which local production contributes nearly 45,000 metric tonnes, while the remainder is imported from Assam, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and neighbouring countries such as Myanmar and Bangladesh.
While acknowledging the scope for further growth in local production, he emphasized the importance of central support through schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Kisan Credit Cards, and bank loans to boost fish farming. Efforts are also underway to establish low-cost hatcheries across districts to strengthen local aquaculture.
“Although production of the local Shareng has improved significantly this year, it still falls short of total demand. Measures are being taken to bridge this gap,” he added.
Awards will be presented to outstanding fish farmers for their contributions to the sector. Officials also appealed to the public to support indigenous fish producers and refrain from consuming imported fish due to concerns over freshness and quality.
