PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa fisheries department has taken a number of steps to boost fish production in order to generate economic activity in the province.

A statement issued here on Saturday said that during the last three years, reforms were initiated for promotion of community-based fisheries, protection and preservation of fish biodiversity and development of appropriate fish production technologies.

It said according to a three-year progress report of the fisheries department, a total of Rs173.122 million were allocated for five ongoing and three new projects in the ADP 2013-14.

According to the statement, 49 fish farms were established in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda, Swabi and Lower Dir districts, besides trainings were provided to more than 100 farmers in order to enhance their professional capacity on the methods and techniques of breeding and rearing fish.

Moreover, five trout hatcheries were repaired and made functional whereas more than one million trout eggs were imported and left for hatching in the cold water canals of Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Upper Dir and Shangla. Additionally, these eggs were also provided to the private sector fisheries.

The fisheries department has also started repairing and expansion of three carp fish hatcheries for increasing the production of fish in the province.

In the ADP 2014-15, a total of Rs172.534 million were allocated for six projects which includes the construction of carp fish hatchery over an area of 175 kanals in Swabi. The facility will help in stocking fish at Tarbela Dam, Khanpur Dam and in canal water of adjacent districts.

Additionally, 34 fish farms have been approved for construction in the private sector in Peshawar, Nowshera and Charsadda.

In the ADP 2015-16, Rs205.172 million has been allocated for completion of nine development projects. Fish hatcheries at Kohistan and Battagram will be reconstructed for restoring the fish production facility.

Moreover, these facilities will help in achieving the proposed target for fish production.

Additionally, a trout training centre will be established in Kaghan valley which will train farmers in the breeding of the fish. The facility will help locals in establishing fish farms and develop trout breeding for commercial production and exports.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2016