Balakot:
The trout in the trout of the Kaghan valley is on the verge of collapse due to the negligence of the government and the lack of support.
After the devastating floods from last year, trout fish farmers have undergone heavy losses, with millions of peririzing fish rupees. Despite the magnitude of the damage, the government has not taken significant measures towards the restoration of affected farms.
Fluctuating water temperatures and frequent epidemics of the disease have further exacerbated the situation, causing serious losses to the people involved in this former industry. However, farmers remain deprived of any support or supervision of the government or the fisheries service.
In July of last year, the sudden floods caused a massive destruction in the Bhoonja valley, destroying several trout farms. To date, most of these farms have been abandoned, without any rehabilitation effort triggered despite the fact that many of them have been built thanks to annual development programs funded by the Government (ADP).
Sources reveal that farmers who try to rekindle their operations on a self-assistance basis are forced to buy fish seeds from Swat or Gilgit-Baltistan, which incur costs almost four times higher than normal due to transport and limited local offer. At the local level, no installation exists to support the provision of seeds.
The Kaghan valley has two trout hatching – one in Shinu Jarid, which is operational, and another in Lohar Banda, which was built at the price of millions but which is now deserted, a glaring example of negligence by the Department of Fisheries.
Trout Farming, which was formerly a lucrative company offering employment possibilities to many members of the region, has now become a loss company due to the lack of government support. Last year, disease epidemics and floods inflicted massive losses on farmers. This year, the crisis continues while fish seeds remain unavailable and convincing to travel long distances to obtain it.
