Enhancing benefits through incorporation of Puntius gonionotus in polyculture system: Outputs from an adaptive trial in rural Odisha

Species diversification in aquaculture is becoming a thrust area for research and extension in India with the concern of exploiting additional opportunity of managing available extensive indigenous fish resources. The present study is based on an adaptive Trial at farmer’s field conducted by Krishi Vigyan Kendra-Khordha, the farm science centre on the incorporation of Puntius gonionotus in polyculture system. The results indicated that average gross production after final harvesting of the ponds was found to be 3235.7 and 3584.83 kg in T1 (farmers practice) and T2 (incorporation of minor carps) respectively. The benefit cost ratio was found to be increased from 2.37 to 2.53 indicating a good return and better prospect of incorporation of P. gonionotus in polyculture with Indian Major Carps (IMC). An additional average net income of Rs 26,030/ha with a meagre additional investment of Rs 4,330/ha from the same water body encourages the farmers towards the new technology. This adaptive Trial results reconfirmed the research station Trial that P. gonionotus is a candidate species for polyculture system for the farmer’s adoption in large scale. However, the study also concluded that promotion of incorporation of minor carps in polyculture system needs to be linked with markets as the demand is scattered than the local consumption.