DOI: 10.36347/sjavs.2019.v06i04.001

Pages: 119-127

The northern part of Bihar has a myriad of scattered ponds and tanks mainly formed by hundreds of rivers and rivulets finally discharging into Koshi, Mahananda and the mighty river Ganga. The scattered and isolated water bodies are suitable for culturing aquatic organisms of high economic values under controlled and semicontrolled conditions. These aquatic bodies can profitably be managed for fish culture as well as cultivating water-fruits like makhana (Euryale ferox Salsb). and water chestnut (Trapa natans var. bispinosa)Roxb. Makino which are of high nutritive values and relished by the people of India and abroad too. On account of being fatless, aphrodisiac, spermatogenic and high carbohydrate and protein content makhana is in high demand in western and gulf countries. The cultivation of makhana is an age-old practice. It is an important source of income for poor fishermen in N-E Bihar. Out of total makhana produced in India, more than 80% is produced in Bihar. Purnea, Koshi and Darbhanga divisions of north Bihar are the major areas of its cultivation. The fishing community commonly called mallah, use to cultivate this water fruits as one of the cash crops in Katihar District. They have developed the expertise of its cultivation as well as its intricate harvest and post-harvest operations over generations. Majority of the farmers are cultivating makhana as the monocrop. After harvesting of the makhana crop some air breathing catfishes like mangur, singhi, kawai, garai, souri, gainchi etc. generally get access and enter through the paddy fields in the ponds and tanks. These fishes are also being harvested by the farmers as an additional animal crop without introducing the seeds of these fishes. However, some of the local farmers are also cultivating makhana along with fish culture. In the present investigation the control pond (C) yielded 4.72 tons of carp fishes per hectare whereas the experimental pond of makhana-fish integrated aquaculture covering the same a