Success story of a progressive hatchery: Transforming small-scale fish farming into a profitable aquaculture enterprise in Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal

Abstract

Aquaculture has emerged as an important growth sector in West Bengal contributing significantly to rural livelihoods and employment generation. This case study is an entrepreneurial success story of Mr. Amrita Das, a progressive fish farmer of Dakshin Dinajpur district, West Bengal, who converted a small-scale fish farming activity into a profit-making hatchery enterprise. He adopted
improved breeding, nursery management and fish seed production technologies especially for catfish species with technical support from Dakshin Dinajpur Krishi Vigyan Kendra. This success story is an example of how scientific aquaculture, institutional support and entrepreneurial innovation can be a boon for sustainable fisheries development, rural employment and socio-economic upliftment.