Nepal produced 64,900 tonnes of fish in the last fiscal year 2013-14 against 57,500 tonnes in fiscal 2012-13, said the Directorate of Fisheries Development (DFD) under the Ministry of Agricultural Development. However, annual demand comes to around 80,000 tonnes, Fan said.

A study done by Nepal Rastra Bank in 47 districts and eight key urban centres across the country found that fish production in those districts amounted to 38,789 tonnes in the last fiscal, up

25.5 percent compared to the previous year.

“The production is growing at a marginal rate but demand has been surging in recent years,” said Rama Nanda Mishra, programme director of the DFD.

According to the directorate, around 79,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in fish farming. Chitwan, Bara, Morang, Saptari, Dhanusha, Bardia, Janakpur, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Rautahat, Makwanpur and Parsa are the major fish producing districts in the country.

A total of 21 Tarai districts have been declared as fish producing districts, and each district has been assigned a fishery development officer. About 10 types of fish are being produced commercially.

“Although fish farming has been gradually increasing, productivity is low and the mortality rate is high due to lack of technical knowledge, proper feed and specialized vehicles for transporting fish, among other reasons,” said Tulsi Raj Giri, president of Fan. There is a need for commercial fish production and a proper fish marketing system for the industry to grow, he added.

Some of the popular fish varieties being sold in the Kathmandu valley are Rohu, Bachwa, Naini and Magur.

Giri said that around 65 percent of the fish sold in the valley were imported from India. Most of the fish produced outside the Kathmandu valley is consumed locally, said farmers. “The Kathmandu valley receives 12 tonnes of fish daily from India while domestic producers supply around 5 tonnes,” said Giri.

Meanwhile, a fishery expo and festival is scheduled to kick off on January 30 at the Everest Hotel, Kathmandu. Fan and the Fishery Society of Nepal are the

main organisers and the DFD is the co-organiser of the event which is aimed at promoting the fish industry.

The three-day event will have 50 stalls showcasing various species of fish and providing information about fish production. Fish and feed producers will occupy 20 stalls while 20 stalls will offer varieties of fish dishes. Similarly, 10 stalls have been set aside to provide technical information to farmers.

The fish sold in Kathmandu costs in the range of Rs 250 to Rs 350 per kg while live fish costs Rs 450 per kg in the retail market.