Nepal has over 27,000 fish ponds situated mainly in the Terai districts.  The poor are mainly involved as small farmers who either own or lease small ponds to rear fingerlings up to table size for sale through small traders. Several ethnic groups are involved in fish production including the Malaha, Tharu, Mukhiya, Mushar and Majhi. However, only a small minority of ponds are managed by women.

Current productivity levels are low at about 3.8M t/ha, but there is evidence that this yield could more than double with improved management. Under-performance at the pond-level is mainly due to poor pond management practices, improper feeding and the use of low-quality fry and fingerlings.

Samarth-NMDP is focused on developing new business models for feed manufacturers, aqua chemical companies, hatcheries and nurseries to reduce barriers that prevent them from reaching smaller farmers.  Through improved packaging, enhanced promotion and provision of information, the interventions aim to improve access of farmers to inputs, services and market - resulting in significant increases in productivity and incomes.

Current Interventions

1. Better Hatchery Management

2. Brood Stock Management

3. Improve Trade and Marketing

4. Enhance information of Aquaculture

 

Samarth-NMDP is implementing this project with Devtec.

Working Districts: 
Sunsari
Morang
Kapilbastu
Rupandehi
Nawalparasi

Related Resources

The role of public private partnership in the development of fish sector in Nepal
March 17, 2017

This case study in the fishing sector examines the importance of public and private actors working together and the benefits brought about by a cohensive public-private partnership.

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Slaughterhouses create Market Linkage and Market Assurance to smallholder farmers
November 09, 2016

Majority of small pig farmers of Nepal are from marginalized underprivileged groups.  As per the agriculture census of 2011, there were 5, 40,000 households rearing pigs (mostly less than two) in Nepal. When the pig program of Samarth-NMDP was launched in 2012, there were only 40 registered pig farms. Today, there are more than 1200 registered pig farms scattered around the hills and the plains of Nepal.

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Hatcheries from eight districts are trained to provide water quality testing services to fish farmers
July 07, 2016

Half-day training on water test kit operation by the supplier to the hatcheries was held on 3rd and 5th June, 2016, at Fisheries Development Centers (FDC) of Bhairahawa and Janakpur respectively. The main aim of the program is to train the hatcheries to operate water test kits and interpret results so that they can provide the same service to farmers. 

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Catalyzing the distribution of pure brood stock to private hatcheries
April 21, 2016

Even though seed is the single most important input for all fish farmers, very little had been done to retain the gene purity of the brood stock. This has led to in-breeding and cross-breeding of brood stock.  Small fish farmers who access low quality seeds face high mortality and poor growth rate of fish.

To catalyse the process, Samarth facilitated a public private partnership to develop a mechanism both for distribution of pure brood stock to private hatcheries and for cost sharing and monitoring.

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Post-earthquake Update: Agriculture
June 04, 2015

Samarth-NMDP is a market development programme, and was commencing year 4 of a five year programme at the time of the earthquake.

The worst affected sectors in which Samarth works were Dairy, Vegetables and Crop Protection (agri-inputs). Within these worst affected sectors, Samarth supported market players - mainly associations that represent these industries - to conduct a rapid market analysis to understand the impact of the disaster on their markets. Using the findings of this rapid analysis, Samarth-NMDP is developing interventions which can assist in the recovery of these markets to safeguard productive assets such as livestock, and recover income generation opportunities for poor smallholders. For activities which are beyond the scope of Samarth’s market development mandate -i.e. market-led relief - the programme is assisting in the development of concept papers for other aid actors to support.