NATIONAL PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AQUACULTURE IN NEPAL^1/

^1/ Prepared by Mr. P.J.B. Rana, Deputy Director-General, Department of Agriculture, and Mr. K.G. Rajbanshi, Fisheries Development Officer, Kathmandu

1. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION

1.1 Present and Anticipated Population

Nepal is a small country with an area of 145 689 km². The present estimated population is 12.58 million; at the end of 1980 it is expected to rise to 13.71 million and in the course of a decade, i.e., by 1985, it is expected to rise to 15.32 million. It is also estimated that if the present increasing rate continues, the country's population will be in the order of 23.10 million by 2000. With the high rate of population increment it is only natural that increasing pressure will be exerted on available natural resources of the country. Agricultural land and water resources of Nepal are far less than forest resources and the mountain and hilly desert areas. However, 95 percent of the population is involved in agricultural activities.

1.2 Present per caput Consumption of Fish,

At present, the proportion of animal protein in the diet of the Nepalese population is estimated at 4.5 kg per caput, in which the fish is estimated to be only 200 g per caput in 1974/75. However, fish as a protein-rich food is acceptable to every level of the population. Domestically-produced supplies of fish are primarily from simple traditional capture fisheries in rivers and lakes (2 000 tons) and fish culture in the private sector (400 tons) as well as from governmental fish farms (23 tons) and from subsistence level paddy-cum-fish culture in the private sector. Thus, the production of fish in Nepal is still at a very low level, being about 2 500 tons in 1974/75.

Nepal is a landlocked country and, therefore, the production of fish is totally dependent on use of inland waters. It is understood that some quantity of fish is imported into the country from neighbouring countries, but due to the total absence of reliable statistics, this has not been taken into account.

1.3 Role of Aquaculture in Meeting Home Consumption Requirements

Fish culture is a recent activity in Nepal. There is, however, considerable scope for expansion of aquaculture development to increase fish production. Natural lakes and rivers in the country provide an estimated 400 000 ha of water area for development. With the steadily increasing trend in the construction of irrigation dams and hydro-electric power stations, several additional water bodies for aquaculture development are rapidly becoming available. Village ponds, which are common and have a long history in the country, constitute a major resource for aquaculture development. By 1980, it is estimated that irrigated paddy fields in the country will extend over 263 490 ha and a large proportion of these paddy fields offer some scope for fish culture development as well. Natural fisheries resources in Nepal can be briefly described as follows:

Type of natural resource	Estimated area (ha)	Projected additional development by 1985a/ (ha)
River	395 000	-
Natural lakes	5 000	-
Irrigation hydro-electric reservoirs	80	200
Village ponds/tanks	5 000	500
Irrigated paddyfields	117 490	146 000
Total	522 570	146 700

^a/ Rough estimate

Considering the nature of resources and the need for increased availability of protein-rich foods, H.M. Government of Nepal has accorded high priority to development of aquaculture in the country. The fifth five-year plan (1975-80) envisages a target of 5 240 tons production of fish per year, aimed at increasing per caput consumption of fish to 382 g by 1980. This objective is to be achieved through intensification of fish culture in public and private farms, in village tanks, reservoirs, lakes and paddyfields, as well as by the development of the natural water fisheries (rivers).

The results of fish culture in artificial fish ponds (drainable as well as undrainable) and paddyfields in the private sector have been encouraging. On the basis of results to date, it is expected that a considerable part of the animal protein needs of the population could be met if modern fish culture practices were to be gradually extended to other parts of the country after the necessary feasibility studies have been undertaken.

1.4 National Policies Related to Food Production

In the national development policy, agriculture development has the highest priority in the fifth five-year plan. The Government, recognizing the importance of aquaculture in improving the nutrition of the people through increasing production of fish in a relatively short period compared with other sectors of animal husbandry, has given considerable priority to the development of fish culture. This has resulted in the adoption of crash programmes of development over and above normal development plans, but a comprehensive assessment of aquaculture development possibilities in the country and their role in rural development, socio-economic improvement and increased employment opportunities, is still to be completed.

2. OBJECTIVES AND GOALS OF AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT

2.1 Objectives

Fish culture has only a short history in Nepal, with the limited production utilized for domestic consumption only. The potentials for aquaculture development in the country are, however, considerable. Lack of adequate technical expertise in the field of aquaculture, is one of the major constraints to rapid development. Besides natural waters (rivers and lakes), reservoirs and irrigated paddyfields, the country has approximately 5 000 ha of village ponds in warmer parts (sub-tropical climatic conditions) of the country and these can easily be used for fish culture to increase production. The main objectives for aquaculture development in Nepal are as follows:

2.1.1 Short-term objectives

(i) To increase the nutritional status of the people, with priority being given to increasing aquaculture production by expanding and intensifying fish culture in the private sector.

(ii) To initiate mass production of seed of selected exotic and indigenous fish species to encourage fish culture.

(iii) To adopt new aquaculture technology in suitable undeveloped rural areas (fish culture in ponds and tanks, paddy-cum-fish culture, duck-cum-fish farming, improving production in reservoirs and lakes, and related subjects), and generate additional employment.

(iv) To develop intensive techniques of aquaculture production to augment yield, and to disseminate the techniques among fish farmers.

(v) To increase fish production by intensive stocking of suitable fish species in selected lakes/reservoirs, adopting appropriate measures for conservation and natural propagation and by organized harvesting and marketing of the crop.

To attain these short-term objectives, crash programmes over and above routine country programmes (supported by UNDP) have been developed to bring under intensive aquaculture about 1 200-2 000 ha of ponds, and 600-700 ha of lakes in the public as well as private sector by 1979-80, which will yield about 5 241 tons of prime fish.

2.1.2 Long-term objectives

The long-term objectives are also to increase fish production from the available water resources in order to make available additional supplies of animal protein to the people by:

(i) developing and expanding commercial fish farming or large-scale fish farming and its related activities (auxiliary industries) at cottage-industry scale in the private sector through appropriate organizations;

(ii) encouraging and expanding integrated fish farming, such as fish-cum-duck culture, rearing more animal protein from a limited area;

(iii) organizing the fishermen into cooperatives or fishermen's associations, and extending through them facilities for easy procurement of production inputs. This will raise the socio-economic condition of socially-backward communities of fishermen (estimated at 15 000-20 000 people), and will, at the same time, enhance fish production.

To meet the above short-term as well as long-term objectives of aquaculture development, there are at present nine fisheries development centres producing about 2 million fish seed annually for distribution and two commercial fish farms producing table fish. One of the commercial fish farms has undertaken duck-cum-fish farming, which has been found to be very promising with fish production showing a definite increasing trend.

2.1.3 Sectoral priorities

At present, small-scale as well as large-scale fish production operations in the private sector will continue to receive full protection and support from the Government, with the main aim of maintaining the present level of fish production on the one hand, and increasing the level of productivity on the other. Greater participation by the private sector in the aqua-culture industry is anticipated by continued demonstration of economic viability, if necessary even in their own ponds.

In the current fifth five-year plan of Nepal (1975-80), high priority has been given to the private sector for fish production. Consequently, it is planned to transfer two commercial fish farms of 65 ha in the public sector to the private sector after successful demonstration of commercial production of fish. A policy decision has also been taken to gradually transfer responsibility for fish seed production, especially common carp which breeds easily in pond water, to the private sector. During this five-year plan period, the present fish seed production of 3.3 million (1975-76) will increase to 12.5 million by 1979-80, as shown below:

	1975/76	1976/77	1977/78	1978/79	1979/80	1980/81	1981/82	1982/83	1983/84	1984/85
Requirement of fish seed	3.3	4.7	7.8	10.0	12.5	14.0	16.0	17.5	20.0	21.5

This is expected to be attained by a production of 4.26 million fingerlings in the private sector, with the remaining 8.15 million being produced by the public sector. Though the fingerling production in the private sector has been envisaged until 1980, the public sector will be fully responsible for fish seed production and distribution. In case of a high demand for fish seed, cooperation will be sought to meet the deficit through bilateral or multilateral assistance.

2.1.4 Levels and scales of production

The country's present annual production of fish by aquaculture is estimated at about 2 500 tons, which is domestically consumed, but only a very limited amount of fish is smoked and no processing, freezing or icing facilities are available in the country. The bulk of production is sold through local markets and consumed within the immediate vicinity of the production centres.

The present level of fish production stands at an average of 800-1 200 kg/ha in the private sector depending on the farmer's experience, as well as climatic conditions. In the medium term the production target is to be met by increasing the production to 1.5-2.0 tons/ha, while the long-term objective is to increase it to 2.0-2.5 tons/ha.

The projected production will be achieved by:

(i) giving more incentives (e.g., by financing and providing guarantees of distribution and marketing) and technical assistance to the private sector for fish production, as well as producing fish seed;

(ii) establishing new public sector demonstration fish farms in suitable areas in different parts of the country, improving hatchery techniques and providing training and equipment;

(iii) disseminating the techniques developed for increased production for the benefit of the private sector as well as introducing or exploiting suitable fast-growing exotic or indigenous fish species for developing intensive culture systems.

2.2 Production Targets

The targeted production of inland fisheries in the country up to 1979/80 is given below, with projection for 1985.

	1975/76	1976/77	1977/78	1978/79	1979/80	1985
Capture fisheries	2 000	2 000	2 000	2 000	2 000	2 000
Fish culture	700	981	1 612	2 081	3 049	6 700

During the decade, 1975-85, the area under fish culture is expected to increase from the 1975-76 area of 550 ha to 3 000 ha with a corresponding increase in production to about 6 000 tons. Intensive culture techniques adopted ensuring a production of over 2 tons/ha will be adopted after 1980.

The annual input requirements and their respective costs, such as fish poison for clearing ponds, fertilizers, feed and fish fingerlings for stocking, are projected in Table 1.

The cost of producing a ton of fish is estimated to be approximately N.Rs. 2 400^1/, while the prevailing rate for fish on the market at N.Rs. 0.10 per kg is about N.Rs. 10 000. Even after making allowances for managerial costs, labour, rental and depreciation, fish culture even on a semi-intensive scale is an economically viable undertaking.

^1/ U.S.$ 1.00 = approx. N.Rs. 10.56

Fish seed requirements for the period have been projected in section 2.1.3. At an average survival rate of 40 percent, the present production of carp eggs is about 10 million. By 1985, this will have to be increased to 50 million to provide the 20 million fingerlings required for stocking. The nursery ponds available in different projects in the country amount to over 20 ha. There will be 12 fish seed production centres at the end of 1980 and seed production by induced breeding will be undertaken at all these centres. Projection costs for production of fish seed is given in Table 2. Transportation and supply of fish seed to fish farms is at present fully subsidized by the Government. By improving techniques of induced spawning and spawn rearing, it should be possible to reduce production costs still further.

Though, at present, the level of fish production from inland waters of the country is low, production can be increased several fold by adaptation of the known techniques of intensive aquaculture from countries where they are developed. Bilateral, as well as multilateral, assistance will have a very important role to play in developing the aquaculture industry in Nepal.

2.3 Cultivated Species and Production Systems

2.3.1 Culture of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Fish farmers taking up fish culture are given common carp seed for monoculture. In properly managed ponds where predators have been eliminated, common carp breed and produce some fingerlings naturally.

2.3.2 Culture of compatible combinations of carps

The Chinese carps Ctenopharynogodon idella, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis and the common carp Cyprinus carpio are cultivated together in ponds. The fingerlings are produced by induced breeding. By clearing ponds of predators and applying fertilizers, a production of 1.0-1.2 tons/ha/year is achieved. Indigenous Indian major carps, Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhira mrigala are also used in fish culture.

2.3.3 Fish culture-cum-duck rearing

Fish production is appreciably increased by combining it with duck rearing in fish ponds. Combinations of 3-4 species of carps are stocked at 5 000-6 000/ha and 400-500 ducks are also reared in the same pond. Production of fish in such ponds shows an increase of 5-10 percent as compared to ordinary fish ponds. Through fish-cum-duck farming, more animal protein is produced from the same water area as ducks grow to an average weight of 2 kg in 45-50 days from the date of hatching.

2.3.4 Development of lake fisheries

Indigenous species in some of the lakes include Tor tor and Shizothorax spp. Even though both the above species are high-value species, culture techniques for them have not yet been developed, It is planned to stock large areas of lakes (600-700 ha) and reservoirs with carp fingerlings for increasing production and establishing a fishery of these species.

2.3.5 Paddy-cum-fish culture

Paddy-cum-fish culture has been newly introduced in the country and is practised in a small area in which common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is used. Only irrigated paddyfields are selected for the purpose and dikes of the field are specially prepared beforehand. Fish are stocked after 2-3 weeks of paddy plantation and cultured for 3-4 months with at least 30-40 cm of water. Within this period the fish grows to about 100-150 g and the production is about 200 kg/ha (depending on the farmer's skill and experience).

Expansion of paddy-cum-fish culture has considerable potential as the area of irrigated paddyfields is rapidly increasing in the country (see Table 1). Expansion of fish culture in paddyfields has been taken into account in a new Integrated Fishery Development and Fish Culture Project in Pokhara aided by UNDP.

2.3.6 Cage culture

Cage culture of selected species of carps (especially silver carp) has shown promising results (stocking with 200 g silver carp gives growth of 4-6 g/day) and could be developed into a new culture system in Nepal.

3. ESTABLISHMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURE

3.1 Extension Service

The general Agricultural Extension Agency is now responsible for fisheries extension work as well. Lack of suitably trained personnel for effective extension work is a serious handicap. Fish farmers being largely unschooled, effective extension work demands demonstration of improved culture techniques in farmers' ponds. Extension workers should naturally have a background in fisheries and should receive training in intensive methods of culture. Lack of extension literature and aids (booklets, posters, etc.) is also one of the major constraints to effective extension work. A team of 18 American Peace Corps Volunteers is now engaged in fish culture extension work in the country and they have been able to make some headway in influencing some of the farmers in improved fish culture techniques.

Under the current fifth five-year plan, besides technical and financial help to the private sector, a fish culture training course of three months duration is being organized at the Animal Research and Veterinary Science Institute at the university level. Specialized, short-term courses on specific aspects of fish culture are also being organized for the benefit of fish farmers.

In the long term, it is expected that even at the school stage fish culture could form part of the educational curriculum so that farmers going in for fish culture will have a background of the subject and will need only on-the-job training.

3.1.1 Technical assistance

Technical assistance in site selection, design and construction of ponds and installation, farm management, health inspection and disease control of stock, etc., has been made available to fish farmers in spite of the limited technical manpower available. Transfer of technology to farmers depends on having suitably trained personnel. Facilities do not now exist in the country for specialized aquaculture training. In this area, external assistance is essential.

3.1.2 Procurement and distribution of inputs

Inputs in the form of fertilizers, feeds and technical equipment required have been detailed in Table 1. The present international situation has made procurement of these essential supplies difficult and expensive and consequently sharply raises the cost of production of fish. In the projections made, the total resources of the country have not been taken into account because of the above situation. Even for attaining the targets indicated, organized assistance from regional or international organizations is essential in the matter of procurement of inputs from outside the country.

3.2 Training of Core Personnel

Facilities for training of core personnel do not exist in the country and are not expected to be available for some time to come. It is, therefore, necessary to have the necessary key personnel trained outside Nepal. In this, the country is entirely dependent on external assistance. Specialized aquaculture training, however, is not available in the neighbouring countries or in the region and in this context a regional centre for aquaculture research and development offering advanced training facilities would be a real incentive to aquaculture development in a least developed country like Nepal.

3.3 Organization of Research

In Nepal so far, priority has been given for production-oriented adaptive research in fish culture. The Government has given considerable attention to developing one centrally located warmwater experimental station which is now in the construction phase. This station will conduct studies on induced breeding, rearing and nursing of fish fry and production-oriented studies (feeding, fertilizing, diseases, etc.). The Integrated Fishery and Fish Culture Development Project (Pokhara) assisted by UNDP plans to establish a lake study laboratory.

Training facilities for research personnel on aquaculture development programmes have to be provided to strengthen the infrastructure for rapid development.

4. PRODUCTION PROGRAMMES

4.1 Financing and Credit

The public sector projects are financed by the Government, while the development projects are financed under bilateral and multilateral assistance. A new development project, namely the Integrated Fishery and Fish Culture Development Project (Pokhara), is to be financed by UNDP.

In the private sector, the fish farmers can procure credit and loans from Agriculture Development Banks in the various districts. The loans have been divided into short-term and long-term. The short-term loan is payable within a year while a long-term loan is payable over ten years. Loans are given by the bank on the recommendation of the Fisheries Officer and the Agriculture Extension Officer of the respective districts.

4.2 Phasing and Management of Production Programme

4.2.1 Areas to be developed

To increase the production of fish in a relatively short period, priority is given to developing warmwater fish culture in the lowlands of the country called Terai. There are numerous village ponds (about 5 000 ha) as well as favourable climatic conditions for fish production in this area. Production targets have been detailed in section 2.2. Considerable attention has also been given to developing fisheries in lakes of about 600 ha under the Integrated Fisheries and Fish Culture Development Project (Pokhara-aided by UNDP) within the current fifth five-year plan. According to this plan, the management of fish production programmes will mostly be the responsibility of the private sector, while fish seed production will be undertaken in the public sector.

4.2.2 Arrangements for acquisition of sites and construction of farms and installation

Arrangements for acquisition of sites for expansion or establishment of new projects will be carried out under the normal acquisition procedures of government. A new construction site is selected only on the recommendations of a team of aquaculturists, engineers or overseers (specially trained in fish culture aspects) and soil experts.

As far as designing and construction are concerned, the Fisheries Development Section (under the Department of Agriculture), has one overseer specially trained in fish culture, and on technical aspects he is assisted by a separate Agricultural Engineering Section of the Agriculture Department. Due to limited manpower, it has only been possible to extend this service to the private sector for the construction of ponds.

4.2.3 Manpower requirements and arrangements for training of personnel for production programmes

Only 15 officers and 19 medium-level technicians are now employed for the development of fish culture, out of which only six officers are trained; three are under training in the U.S.A. and the rest are untrained but are receiving practical experience working in different fisheries development centres.

To ensure the attainment of the target production objectives, at least 25 senior officers and 103 technicians are required.

Arrangements for training personnel have to be made through bilateral and multilateral -means, while provision has to be made to train medium-level technicians within the country.

4.2.4 Procurement of inputs

(a) Seed - has been mentioned in 2.1.3.

(b) Fertilizer - In Nepal, the Agricultural Input Corporation takes care of the country's requirements of agricultural inputs, including fertilizer, and also supplies the fertilizer for fish culture.

(c) Fish poison - To prepare the village ponds for fish culture, it is essential to use fish poison to kill the various species of carnivorous fishes so as to ensure high survival of the stocked cultivable fish species to obtain higher production. At the present level of the industry, only small quantities of fish poisons have to be imported but, with further expansion, larger quantities will be required as detailed in Table 1. It is very expensive to import these due to increasing prices. Locally available herbs and shrubs (used as fish poison) could be utilized for the same purpose provided they are first analysed (e.g., for content of rotenone). If suitable sources of fish poisons can be found, it would encourage an auxiliary industry (herb and shrub cultivation) for domestic use or export.

4.2.5 Health and disease control

Various external and internal parasites have been observed, but so far serious mortality in cultured fish has not been experienced. Prophylatic measures are considered the best way to prevent this occurrence and it is necessary to train core personnel in the diagnosis and control of diseases.

4.2.6 Organization of harvesting and marketing

Marketing problems do not exist in Nepal as demand for fish is much higher than production. But it has been recognized during the course of fish culture development that harvesting of fish should be organized so that fish farmers do not compete with each other, especially in those areas having low market capacity.

This will help fish farmers to establish suitable organizations (fish farmers' associations or cooperative societies) to handle harvesting and marketing, and such organizations should be supported with the necessary facilities (e.g., live fish transportation vans, cutting or curing facilities) to develop an efficient marketing system.

4.2.7 Budget

Under the current fifth five-year plan the provision for capital and operating cost of aquaculture in the public sector amounts to N.Rs. 23 569 million. Beyond 1980, the budget will be expanded as projected in Table 1.

4.4 External Assistance Requirements

4.4.1 Technical assistance

Considering the importance of fish culture in meeting the animal protein deficit, H.M. Government of Nepal started fish culture with a few projects, and then with valuable technical assistance from FAO (from 1960 to 1972), extended it throughout the country. The Integrated Fishery Development Programme in Pokhora has been launched with UNDP assistance for a period of 51 months.

More technical assistance is required for an overall water resources survey, and determination of the feasibility for increasing fish production and for aquaculture.

External assistance is also required to develop or improve:

(i) hatchery methods and commercial fish seed production;

(ii) control of diseases;

(iii) fish feed made from locally available materials;

(iv) training of core personnel and fisheries extension personnel;

(v) suitable aquaculture techniques adaptable to the country;

(vi) engineering aspects of fish culture;

(vii) coldwater fish culture, especially to determine whether local species of fish are suitable or introduction of exotic species would be advisable;

(viii) fish culture in combination with other forms of animal husbandry for increased animal protein.

4.4.2 Financing

Since Nepal is a landlocked country with comparatively very limited GNP, the need for external assistance becomes more important. Moreover, as development of aquaculture is an expensive operation (for its establishment), financial assistance with low interest and easy repayment terms will be required for the rapid development of culture activities for which feasibility has been demonstrated in the country.

TABLE 1

Projection of Costs for Fish Production for the Decade 1975-85^1/

Year	Area under culture (ha)	Production (tons)	Fingerlings, at 6 000/ha2/		Poisoning-and clearing3/	Inorganic fertilizer at 960 kg/ha4/		Artificial feeds5/		Capital cost of construction at N.Rs. 2 000/ha6/ (million N.Rs.)
			Number (millions)	Cost (million N.Rs.)	Cost (million N.Rs.)	Tons	Cost (million N.Rs.)	Tons	Cost (million N.Rs.)
1975-76	550	700	3.3	0.33	0.363	528	1.584
1976-77	750	981	4.5	0.45	0.495	720	2.160	-	-	0.400
1977-78	1 100	1 612	6.6	0.66	0.726	1 056	3.168	-	-	0.700
1978-79	1 400	2 081	8.4	0.84	0.924	1 344	4.032	-	-	0.600
1979-80	1 600	3 049	9.6	0.96	1.056	1 536	4.608	160	0.240	0.400
1980-81	1 900	3 700	11.4	1.14	1.254	1 844	5.472	190	0.285	0.600
1981-82	2 200	4 500	13.2	1.32	1.452	2 112	6.336	220	0.330	0.600
1982-83	2 500	5 200	15.0	1.50	1.650	2 400	7.200	500	0.750	0.600
1983-84	2 800	5 900	16.8	1.68	1.848	2 688	8.064	560	0.840	0.600
1984-85	3 000	6 700	18.0	1.80	1.980	2 880	8.640	600	0.900	0.400
Total	17 800	34 423	106.8	10.68	11.748	17 088	51.264	2 230	3.345	4.900

Cost estimates were made at the current price levels

^1/ 1975-80 figures are from the fifth five-year plan; 1981-85 are estimates and subject to change

^2/ Present market rate for 3.5-cm size fingerlings is N.Rs. 100/1 000. 50 percent subsidy is given by the Government to the farmers on cost of fingerlings, i.e., a farmer pays only N.Rs. 50/1 000

^3/ Ponds are cleared by application of 30 kg/ha of Pronoxfish (imported from the U.S.A.) at N.Rs. 15/kg at subsidized rates (actual Government cost works out at N.Rs. 22/kg)

^4/ Inorganic fertilizer N.P. (20:20) costs N.Rs. 3/kg on the market

^5/ During 1980-82 about 10 percent of the area under culture will have supplementary artificial feeding at 1 ton/ha. During 1983-85 the area will be 20 percent with feeding at the same level as in 1980-82

^6/ Bulk of the area to be brought under culture includes existing ponds which need only limited capital cost for renovation

TABLE 2

Costs of Producing 50 million Carp Eggs and Rearing them to Distribution Size

1. Eggs to be produced at different production centres by induced breeding

Total area for producing spawners over a period of three years	= 20 ha
Cost at N.Rs. 5 000/ha/year for three years	= N.Rs. 0.30 million
Production at 1.5 tons/ha/year	= 90 tons
Loss in breeding	= 20 tons
	70 tons to be sold

2. Induced spawning

Cost of equipment and supplies = N.Rs. 0.100 million

3. Rearing expenses

Area used		= 20 ha
Expenditure per ha:
	Poisoning and clearing	= N.Rs. 500
	Fertilizing	= 3 600
	Seeding	= 1 100
	Capital costs	= 2 000
		N.Rs. 7 200 × 20 = N.Rs. 0.144 million

4. Handling and transport

Receipts cost of 70 tons of fish at 10/kg	= 0.700 million
Cost of production of a million eggs	= N.Rs. 8 000
Cost of production and rearing of a million fingerlings	= N.Rs. 27 200

Note: Labour costs have not been taken into account in this projection