ISLAMABAD The Chairman, PARC, Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan said that inland aquaculture in Pakistan is mainly based on semi-intensive farming which is gradually shifting towards intensive farming due to increased interest of people in Fish farming.
Availability of commercial fish feed, availability of suitable fish species for intensive farming such as Tilapia, Channel Catfish, African Catfish, Pangasius and enhanced fish production per unit area. The PARC chief expressed these views while addressing to the inaugural ceremony of Intensive Fish Farming here on Thursday.
Certain Scientists has got the foreign trainings of intensive farming through PARC since 2019 such as In-pond raceway system and Biofloc fish farming Moreover, on Farm trainings is also being provided by PARC. However to find out suitability of intensive fish farming technology there is need to initiate intensive fish rearing programs locally to facilitate more and more farmers in the country.
The Chairman, PARC further added that in this regard, Aquaculture and Fisheries Program (AFP) in collaboration with PATCO, NARC working under PARC has started an activity which will be focusing on intensive rearing of Tilapia and Channel Catfish in earthen and concrete ponds. Chairman, PARC Dr. Muhammad Azeem Khan also shared on the occasion that this project will serve as pilot project in initiation of controlled fish farming which will be first of its kind at government level. Results of this pilot project will be shared through research paper and seminars among academia and farmers.