Women in Barabanki village are empowered through ornamental fish farming

Lucknow: When 50 Scheduled Caste women from Dhankutti village of Barabanki attended a workshop organized by Indian Council for Agriculture Research – National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR – NBFGR) on rearing of ornamental fish, little did they know that the lesson would soon help them start a business. The workshop, which was part of mission Navshakti of the institution, aimed to empower women in the village by providing them with the knowledge and resources to breed ornamental fish.

During the workshop in February, each woman was provided with five pairs of Molly and Guppy fish along with an aquarium. They were taught how to maintain and breed the fish, and were also connected with an expert on a WhatsApp group for any queries or problems they encountered. This support system proved to be invaluable as the women embarked on their new venture.

A few days back, two of the women, Seema and Usha, sold 500 fish, setting an example for the group and earning their first income from the venture. Usha Rawat, one of the first sellers, expressed her joy at being able to earn money through rearing fish. She shared, „I raise the fish like my children. I go to see them as soon as I get up in the morning and I begin my day only after feeding them. I was overjoyed to get my first income. My journey has inspired many women residing in the village and nearby to begin the breeding of fish.“

Padma Devi, another woman in the group, also found joy in breeding fish. She got a tank constructed in her house and shared, „Not just me but also my children feel happy to watch the fish swim in the tank. I feel glad that even my children get inspired from me when it comes to breeding fish.“

Their trainer and aquarist, Indramani Raja, highlighted the potential for ornamental fish breeding in Uttar Pradesh. He mentioned that states like Kerala, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu are prominent producers of ornamental fish, with UP purchasing over 300-400 crore worth of ornamental fish from these states annually. By empowering women in the state to start their own businesses through training and support, UP could establish itself as a significant fish breeding center.

Poonam Jayant Singh, the nodal officer of the project, shared that they were working on a hub and spoke model to make more people self-sustaining. By providing women with the tools and knowledge to breed ornamental fish, the project not only empowers them economically but also inspires others in the community to follow suit. The success of Seema, Usha, and the other women from Dhankutti village serves as a testament to the transformative power of education and opportunity in uplifting marginalized communities.