Ranchi, Jan. 17: The state fisheries department is looking at setting up hatcheries to increase seed production and net a bigger haul of fish. The department will set up 40 fish seed hatcheries across the state to breed carp such as rohu, katla, mirgel as well as other Indian and exotic varieties under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The department is also eyeing to generate 100 crore fish seeds or fertilised eggs and 320 crore fish spawns or released eggs. This will enable employment in the hinterland as well as do away with fish seed imports from Bengal. Currently, as much as 60 per cent of fish seeds come from the neighbouring state. The hatcheries on their part will be set up in a phased manner. “Initially, we aim to set up 40 fish seed hatcheries. Then, the number will increase,” deputy director of state fisheries department H.N. Dewedi said. In view of the hatcheries to be set up, as many as 70 fish farmers underwent a two-day training from January 6-8 organised by the department. “We are looking as fish farming as a viable means of income in rural areas. Our focus is on quality and quantity. We have trained farmers to set up the hatcheries and produce high-quality seeds,” said the deputy director. The deputy director added that the trained farmers will grow spawns of different breeds into fry (baby fish) and fingerling (finger-sized ones) and distribute them among the growers who will take extra time to tend them. “One batch of farmers will facilitate the process of fries and fingerlings developing from spawns and another will grow the fish to their normal sizes in water bodies such as tanks, ponds, reservoirs and check dams,” said the deputy director. The state government has been granted Rs 25-lakh subsidy to raise fish spawns under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. “All progressive farmers will join this movement to produce spawns to make fish production a viable livelihood venture and increase the quantity of produce. Right now, a bulk of our demand comes from Andhra Pradesh,” Dewedi added.