The largest state-owned fish farm in Nepal is in Hetauda. Last year the farm produced 25 t of fish ready for consumption and large quantities of young fish. Part of the young fish are raised on the farm, and the rest is sold to private fish farmers. Ducks are also raised on this farm.
The Receiving/Distribution Centre is on the premises of the farm. It is a single room, 6.3 × 3.8, located on the elevated ground floor, with a narrow passageway of only 85 cm on the same level.
There is no water supply nor sewage in the whole building. Electric installations provide light and a few sockets for light consumer units.
The room serves as a store for panels, interlocking edges, etc. for the assembly of the cool room and a deep freezer. Other equipment should be brought from Kathmandu (ice machine, fish boxes) or purchased and built locally (balance, table).
A cool chamber of smaller capacity is envisaged in Hetauda.
Comparing the above-mentioned specification of materials (panels etc.) for the cool room, it was ascertained that one panel was lacking for the assembly of a cool room, while there were 12 interlocking edges of various sizes more than required. The missing panel was brought from Bhairawa, and the remaining edges will be transferred to Bhairawa thus assembling in one spot all the remaining materials needed for the fourth cool room (of larger dimensions).
Plans of the ground floor were drawn with the disposition of equipment which will provide the pattern of assembly, electric wiring, water mains and drainage (Fig. 8).
The main collector was then dug in the concrete floor of the room which will be used to drain the cool room and the table for cleaning and washing of fish.
The consultant then assembled the cool room which, however, could not be put into operation because of a fault in the unit cooler. The condenser leaked in several places so that the gas (Freon 12) had escaped from the system. When the defect was repaired, it was ascertained that the gas could not circulate within the system. This defect was also corrected.
The thermostat was set to cooling to ±0°C and switching on when the temperature rises to +1°C. The personnel was given basic instruction in the use of the cool room and the treatment of fresh fish. The instructions were explained in the preceding section and will not be repeated here.
4.3.1 The cool room is identical with the cool room at Pokhara (see Section 2.3).
4.3.2 The deep freezer, fish boxes, etc. are identical with Pokhara and Kathmandu (see Section 2.3).
It is advisable to build and fit out a retail fish shop. Hetauda is a strong industrial centre and the fish farm and the Centre are only about four km away from the town.
