Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has introduced a new scheme for promoting Intensive Aquaculture through Biofloc Technology in Fisheries. Biofloc, an advanced fish farming technology was introduced in the State to provide livelihood support to entrepreneurs, unemployed youth and interested progressive fish farmers of the state. The scheme aimed at increasing fish productivity and making the state self-sufficient in fish production.
The State Government provides a subsidy of 40 per cent to the beneficiaries of the General category and 60 per cent subsidy to SC & ST beneficiaries. Biofloc based farming system is a new technology for promotion of intensive fish/shrimp production in a limited area without significantly increasing the usage of the basic natural resources of water and land. A person having small land holding (as small as 150-200 square meter of land) and having either municipal piped water supply or bore well water supply can establish this business with small investment. Fisheries and Animal Resources Department sources said the system is suitable for growing freshwater fish species such as GIFT Tilapia, Magur, Pangasius, Anabas, Common Carp depending on local market demands.