Farm

Multiple stocking and multiple harvesting - A useful concept for surplus water in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Multiple stocking and multiple harvesting (MSMH) is a system of composite fish farming, through which fish production can be augmented by many folds

Author : Neelkanth Mishra

 In this system, stocking density is high, maximum being 12000 nos./ha.. The pond is prepared in the same way as in the case of composite fish farming. No extra management works are necessary. However, anursery pond is a prerequisite in the system. Fish culture is done continuously for 3 years, wherein harvesting and restocking starts right from the 4th month of stocking. Fish production is 3000- 3500 kg/ha/year.

Advantages of the technology :

  1. In this system, the farmers need not have a big capital to meet the various recurring expenditure of fish cultivation. He has to manage the pond for a maximum period of 4 months. Then onwards he starts earning, which is reinvested for purchasing of various items required for further fish rearing. Therefore, a marginal farmer can also take up scientific fish farming with his meager resources by adopting this system.
  2. Netting in short intervals results in release of noxious gases and mixing of bottom nutrients with surface water, which enhances primary productivity of the pond.
  3. There are several other advantages.

However, the prime advantage is that the fish production is much higher than yearly composite fish culture system.

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