Ornamental fish farming: Bengal's success story

KOCHI: The small, unassuming stall at the India International Aqua Show does not give any hint on the great success story of a group of rural women from West Bengal. But if you are ready to spare a few minutes while combing through the exotic breeds of fish on display at the dazzling stalls at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, these ladies will narrate how they could create a new life path through ornamental fish farming.

Benofish, a cooperative society, has been helping around 200 women from the low-income families in Bengal to be financially independnt by engaging them in ornamental fish breeding. The society mainly employs women from several self-help groups (SHGs).

“We are specialists in gold fish farming. Our society members are from economically backward patriarchal families in rural West Bengal, where women are not allowed to take up any employment,” said director of the Benofish Co-operative Society R N Galaya.

According to the director, each SHG has separate home-set park, where women are engaged in breeding fishes along with performing their daily household chores.

“Once the fishes are grown, the best quality fishes are procured by us and exported to international markets. So the women need not worry about the marketing,” Galaya said.

The society has also plans to provide 20 women with training of the most modern technology in hatching fishes. “We are looking ahead to get permission from the families of these women to send them for professional training. Our aim is to support them in their journey to attain self-reliance,” Galaya added.

The Benofish was established in 2005 as a small venture with the technical support and training from Kerala Aqua Ventures International Ltd (KAVIL) and the Ministry of Fisheries with financial aid from the government and banks.

The society plans to provide global exposure to its members with a website, www.benofish.sales.in, which will be launched soon.

Benofish had won the first prize for the Gold fish collection at the India International Aqua Show last year. The other varieties of fish bred by the society include Red Catfish, Oranda Goldfish, Black Moor, Australian Rainbow, Milky Carp and Pearlscale