DO YOU KNOW, HOW I’M INVOLVED IN FISHING?

Master Chandran, Alavadipatti

Kolli Hills

HI, I’M CHANDRU AND I’M 7 YEARS OLD. I LIVE WITH MY MOTHER AND SISTER RANI AND MY MUM IS A MEMBER OF APM FISH FARMERS CLUB

MY MUM AND LOCAL VILLAGERS DECIDED TO GROW FISH IN THE VILLAGE COMMUNITY POND. THEY GOT APPROVAL FROM BDO

AND DISTRICT COLLECTOR TOO.

I LOVE FISH AND USED TO ‘HUNT’ FISH WITH MY FRIENDS DURING HOLIDAYS. I REMEMBER MY FATHER SAYING, “BABY FISH DON’T NEED TO BE TAUGHT HOW

TO SWIM” - ME NEITHER.

I USED TO CATCH 10 to 15 FISH IN A DAY. SOME SHINE AND SOME DO NOT.. I DON’T CARE.. I LOVE EATING..

MY MUM AND CLUB MEMBERS WENT FOR AN EXPOSURE VISIT TO A FISH FARM IN SALEM.

NOW WE UNDERSTAND HOW TO GROW BIGGER FISH

THE POND WAS CLEANED, DESILTED AND BUNDS WERE RAISED AND STRENGTHENED WITH THE HELP OF 100 DAYS

WORK..THANKS MNREGA..

OUR PANCHAYAT PRESIDENT & VILLAGE ELDER’S RELEASED FISH FINGERLINGS IN THE POND AND IT’S NOW OWNED BY MY MUM

AND 12 CLUB MEMBERS FOR NEXT 3 YEARS

Catla

Silver Carp

Mrigal Grass Carp

Rohu

WE GROW FISH LIKE CATLA, GRASS CARP AND ROHU IN OUR POND AND WE HARVEST FISH ON THE WEEKENDS.

MY MUM GOT TRAINED TO FEED FISH AND MANAGE PONDS. RAMESH, SATHIS’ UNCLE, HELPS TO CATCH FISH AND SELLS THEM TO THE VILLAGERS.

MARCH TO MAY IS THE DRY SEASON AND FISH GET HARVESTED COMPLETELY FROM THE PONDS.

FISH FINGERLINGS ARE RELEASED IN MAY-JUNE AND HARVESTED FROM NOVEMBER TILL END OF APRIL.

MY MUM ATTEND TRAINING ON FISH COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS AND SHE’S TRAINED OTHER GROUP

MEMBERS IN CLEANING AND COOKING

II AM A MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN NUTRITION CLUB AND I GET TO EDUCATE MY FRIENDS ON HOW EATING FISH HELPS THE MUSCLES IN OUR BODY GROW AND

REPAIR.

MY MUM BUYS FISH FINGERLINGS AND FEEDS THEM IN OUR POND. WHEN THEY GROW WE SHARE THEM WITH GROUP MEMBERS, SELL THEM AND EAT THEM TOO.

I LIKE FISH CURRY… YUMMY..JOIN APM POND USER GROUP

NOW, WHENEVER I NEED FISH, OR WHEN WE HAVE GUESTS, MUM CATCHES FISH FROM THE POND.

DON’T YOU WANNA FISH?

SO NOW, CATCHING BIG FISH FOR MY FAMILY ISN’T A BIG ISSUE TO ME.

THANK YOU.