Enhancement of fish production through aquaculture in the state is one of the priority areas of our Department. One of the important areas for aquaculture in the inland sector is the bee/baor. About 42000 hectares of the water area of beel/baor in West Bengal is under pisciculture mostly undertaken by the co-operative sector. The average productivity in these water bodies is 800-1000 kg/hectare/year. The major constraint for pisciculture in beel/baors is the aquatic weed. Bio-control of aquatic weed/macrophyte by the introduction of Grass Carp is an age-old practice since long back. Grass carp are not only a voracious feeder (feeds on aquatic vegetation) but also their excreta contain the undigested/partly digested vegetation particle which can fertilize the water body. So we can increase the productivity of beel/baors @ 1500 kg/hectare/year by ranching moderate size of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodonidella). In this way, we can get the double benefit, one from the biomass of grass carp itself and another from the bio-control of aquatic weeds. Keeping this in mind, a scheme for cooperative societies engaged in pisciculture activities in Beel/Baors has been formulated for implementation throughout the state during 2022-23.

Assistance under this scheme has been provided in terms of Seed of Grass Carp - 250 Grams each as a Government Contribution. The unit area of the Scheme is 1.0 ha.

• Government assistance is of Rs. 25750.00. Advanced Grass Carp Fish seed is provided under this scheme.