This document discusses the role of small indigenous fish species (SIFs) in food security and poverty alleviation in India. It notes that SIFs make up a large portion of India's freshwater fish biodiversity and are rich in nutrients. However, their potential remains underutilized. The document outlines several government schemes that include SIFs as part of overall strategies to increase fish production in India. It also identifies areas that require further action, such as organizing and regulating the SIF fishery sector, building capacity around SIFs, documenting their nutrient profiles, and relating SIF consumption to health outcomes. The potential of SIFs to meet future demand and address malnutrition is high given India's extensive small water bodies,

1. Small Indigenous Fish Species in India : Role in
Food Security and Poverty Alleviation
B Vishnu Bhat, FDC, DADF, Ministry of Agri., New Delhi
S.K. Saikia, Ph.D., Visva Bharati, West Bengal
Bishnupada Sethi, Comissioner cum Secy. Orissa
U.C. Goswami, Ph.D. Gauhati University, Assam

2. MALNUTRITION IN INDIA-CURRENT
SCENARIO
Year GHI Of
India
Rank Total
country
2011 23.7 67 81
2012 22.9 65 79
2013 21.3 63 78
 GHI increase from 22.9
(1996) to 23.7 (2011).
 GHI ranking shows India is
in critical/ danger
condition.
WHO, 2013

3. Country wise malnutrition status
(from data.worldbank.org)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
BGD BTN CHN IND
%ofMalnutritionPrevalence<childrenof5yearsold
1980-1995
2005-2010
Almost half of children (48%) under age five years are chronically malnourished.-
National Family Health Survey, India 2005
(65.8-62.5)/
(40.8-37.9)
(68.5-49.7)/
(44.9-41.0)

4. India has 2319 fin fish species
(NBFGR, 2010) of which 838 are fresh water
species.
Out of 765 native freshwater species, total
450 fish species have been categorised
under small indigenous fish sp. (Sarkar and
Lakra, 2011)
Orissa, Kerala, Adjoining North Bengal to
North Eastern part and North east India are
rich in fish biodiversity.
36
59
5
Freshwater Marine water Brackish water
India is the second largest fish production
country in the World
It is second highest freshwater fish
production country in the World
STATUS OF FISHERIES IN INDIA
India achieved 11-fold increase in fish
production in just six decades, i.e. from
0.75 million tonnes in 1950-51 to 9.06
million tonnes during 2012-13.
West Bengal 239 (Barman
2007)
North East India 400 of which
at least 180 sp. are small
fishes.

5. Rivers and canals 0.19 million km
Reservoirs 2.91 million ha
Ponds and tanks 2.41 million ha
Inland Fisheries Resources in
India

6. The famous
proverb goes like
this…small is
beautiful….
But, we know
that small fishes
are not only
beautiful, but also
highly nutritious…
54
51
4
SIF OIF
There are no
authorized
and classified
data from all
states on small
fish species.TAG-ORNAMENTAL

7. Bangana dero Berilius bendelensis Berilius sp.
A large catch of very small fish from beel- a
kind of wetland in Assam –Courtsey-DN Das, Rajiv
Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh
A catch of small fish from river in Assam-Courtsey-DN
Das, Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh

8. Mixed small fishes in the market of
Bolpur (Santiniketan), West Bengal
Channa sp. Sold in Bolpur
(Santiniketan), West Bengal
Photo:S.K.Saikia
Photo:S.K.Saikia
Rs.200.00/kg
Rs.400.00-600.00/kg

9. Immediate Concern…..
Revisiting malnutrition
status through
People’s Health Diary
and SIF intake
Detailed biology of
SIS, Resource guided
nutrient
profiling, Integrating
nutrient diversity
Promotion, awareness
and capacity building
programmes

10. 1
•Feeding habit of small fishes
2
•Nutrient bioavailability and food intake
in small fishes
3
•Maximum nutrient retention through
food processing in small fishes
1
2
3

12. • The Blue
Revolution, which
initially triggered
production of
freshwater fish from
aquaculture, has been
stagnating for years
now.
• The government now
wants to exploit the
vast potential of small
fishery to keep pace
with the increasing
fish demand. The only
option for the
government is to
depend on small
fishery.
• Fish accounts for six
per cent of India’s
food budget as 60 per
cent of the country’s
population eats fish.
This is set for a jump
with increase in
overall income
• The national fish
consumption will
reach 6.3 kg per
capita by 2020 from
5.6 kg in 2011.
• The projected
additional demand
for 2020 is about
3.21 million
tonnes, of which
90% is expected to
be met from
freshwater sources.
• But due to lack of
species
diversification and
declining
yield, freshwater
aquaculture is
stagnating. Such is
the demand and
supply imbalance
that during 2006-
11, prices of fish
doubled.
• While there are 15
to 20 species for
commercial
culture, only 3
species of carps
contribute 87% of
freshwater
aquaculture
production in India.
It is estimated that
38% of future fish
demand has to be
met from SIS
• The potential is very
high. India’s small
water bodies have a
water spread area
of 2.41 million
hectares, the
potential ecosystem
to sustain SIS.

13. The various schemes listed below includes SIS as overall strategy for
increasing fish production in the Country :
 Development of Freshwater Aquaculture
 Development of Brackish water Aquaculture
 Development of cold water Fisheries and Aquaculture in
Hilly Regions
 Development of Water-logged Areas into Aquaculture Estate
 Productive Utilization of Inland Saline/Alkaline Soils for
Aquaculture and Inland Capture Resources (reservoirs/rivers,
etc.).
 Establishment of National Fisheries Development Board aimed at
working towards a blue revolution with a focus on increasing the
fish production of the country.
 Development of reservoirs, cage culture etc under National
Mission on Protein Supplement.
Realizing the importance of SIS and its role in ameliorating nutritional
status of poorer undernourished populations, the government of India is
formulating several Policies for increasing the overall fish production.

14. The production of SIS, both from culture and capture
fisheries needs proper documentation for projecting them in the
National Fish Production Statistics.
 Presently, SIS Fishery sector is still an unorganised and
unregulated / voluntarily regulated fishery sector in India. Therefore,
SIS fishery has to be organised and regulated.
 Capacity building activities related to SIS among fish farmers need
urgent attention.
 Documenting and protecting the traditional knowledge and farmers’
innovation with regard to SIS resources.
Undertaking and documenting nutrient profile studies of SIS by ICAR
Institutes, Universities etc.
Documenting per capita consumption of SIS in traditional fish
eating populations vis-à-vis their health profile.
Way Forward

15. THANKYOU