Aqua-village in Meghalaya: Linking science,community and sustainable livelihoods

Abstract

Meghalaya's subsistence-level fish productivity of 1.5 t/ha/year continues unchanged despite the state's unique water resources endowment and traditional aquaculture practices. This article introduces the Aqua-village approach, a scalable, people-centric aquaculture development strategy tested in the Ri-Bhoi district as part of the ICAR-NEH Region's Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP). The approach combines composite fish farming practices with Indian Major Carps and exotic carps, scientifically designed pellet diets, paddle-wheel aeration systems, and livestock-pond synergies to realise production targets of 3–4 t/ha/year. Value addition and processing expertise are also incorporated to provide secondary livelihood opportunities, especially for women and youth. The Aqua-village approach is founded on knowledge-sharing for development, with synergies across several UN-SDGs, providing a sustainable model for tribal fisheries development in north-eastern India.