--By Rashika Pokharel

 

Rainbow Trout fish farming is a profit generating business, which has a wide scope in the Nepali market. Rainbow Trout, one of the many species of trout fishes, is a freshwater fish of the salmon family. Rainbow Trout fish have layers of red, green and blue colours glinting from their scales and get their name from this particular quality. This fish grows in cold and fresh running water. Climatic conditions of Nepal are suitable for the farming of this fish and correspondingly many entrepreneurs have capitalized on this fact. Nepali fish lovers have admired delicacies of this fish while appreciating various health benefits it has. 

 

The fish is not native to Nepali waters. For the first time, it was imported for cultivation from Japan in 1988. Due to favourable environmental condition, production of this fish flourished since then. Recently, private sector has introduced new technologies for producing and packaging it. In Nepal, it is generally perceived that fish farming is possible only in the Terai region of the nation. However, recent developments made in fish farming techniques, has caused a paradigm shift in this sector. Now, Rainbow Trout farming is possible in Hilly areas as well.

 

Rainbow Trout farming was first started in Nuwakot. It has been able to bring considerable changes in economic status of the farmers. Even though the fish if produced in multiple places across the nation, the production has not been able to meet market demands. The fish is available in few department stores in Kathmandu. And sometimes consumers are found to be importing it as well. Comparatively the fish is costly than other species of fishes available in Nepali market. “A kg of rainbow trout fish costs Rs. 1400,” says Rajendra Khadka, owner of Budanilkantha Riverside Restaurant, that sells this fish by producing in its own facility inside the restaurant premises.

 

The Healthiest Choice

Rainbow trout is rich in protein which helps to lose weight and retain lean muscle mass. It contains Omega-3 fatty acid, which helps to reduce blood pressure and helps to overcome depression. This acid also reduces risks of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, high blood cholesterol and certain types of cancer.  It contains minerals, iron, calcium, zinc and vitamins including- vitamin B complex and Vitamin D. Delicious and readily available in most grocery stores, Rainbow Trout is also low in sodium and calories.

 

Rainbow trout has comparatively low-fat level and is low in cholesterol too, which makes it a good protein substitute for meats like beef, pork and lamb that contain significantly higher amounts of saturated fat and cholesterol.

 

Production

Rainbow trout production is expensive. Rs 20 million investment is required to produce 10 tons of Rainbow Trout and Rs 10 million is required to produce 5 tons. The Investment can be made on the basis of producer’s need and financial capabilities. Like other business field, this field has its own bottlenecks and risk factors. “Rainbow trout production is not easy. The sustenance of Rainbow Trout farming is difficult to manage both in terms of monetary and labour cost,” says Khadka.

 

Farmers buy baby Rainbow Trout and rear them until they grow to a standard weight. According to Kapil Thapa, Manager at Nepal Rainbow Trout Farmers Association, the standard weight of a rainbow trout for selling is 200 gram. It takes a year for the baby trout to grow up and gain this weight. 

 

Rainbow trout farming can be done in any season. However, “The most favourable season for its farming is from November to April,” says Mahendra Ghorasini, Central Vice-president of Himalayan Trout Association. The suitable temperature for an adult Rainbow Trout to grow properly is 10-14 degree Celsius and 9-12 degree Celsius for the smaller one.  This species of the fish require clean, cold and continuously flowing water to sustain and grow.

 

Problems

Rainbow Trout farming is done by a very few farmers because its production is expensive as well as difficult.  A single rainbow trout farm setup requires continuous flowing water, a cemented pool and a large area. Though this fish is popular, the popularity is limited to a very few selected groups and is yet reach the mass market. Due to high cost, the popularity is limited to upper middle and high-class people who can afford high costs for seafood eateries. One of the many reasons for the failure of this product to establish in the mass market is the lack of seafood eating culture among general Nepalis, some of which also perceive that seafood eateries are beyond their household budget, Ghorasaini says. Failure to obtain large market for the product has incurred losses to some farmers as sometimes farmers cannot sell reared Rainbow Trout in time. 

 

Another reason behind the declination of rainbow trout sales is the lack of advertisement. “We are not getting platform to let people know about rainbow trout,” says Thapa. In lack of a proper platform to advertise and reach the common mass of people, the farming has received substantial setbacks in supply its produces. 

 

One of the major reasons for the high cost of Rainbow Trout in the market is the cost of the food served to this fish. Food served to this fish costs between Rs 130 to Rs 225 per kg.

 

Adding to it lack of technological developments, proper equipment, and experts the production of the fish has been affected. “We don’t have latest technological equipment that can make substantial changes in producing the fish on large scale,” Ghorasini said pointing out the reason behind small-scale production of the fish.

 

The future

Despite the seemingly disinterestedness among urban and rural Nepalis for seafood, trends are changing. With more and more restaurants booming in Kathmandu and other urban centres across the nation and with consumers becoming more concerned about hygienic and healthy food, Rainbow Trout delicacies are expected to gain more popularity in the days ahead. Even though the fish is costly, increasing income level of consumers and the health benefits attached to this fish will help in attracting more consumers to buy it. Therefore, they are ready to pay a higher price if the food is nutritious and beneficial. 

 

Future of farmers and entrepreneurs involved in this sector can be secured through special initiatives of the government. The government should assist in conducting researches and providing remedies to the Rainbow Trout fisheries and assist in coordinating with international communities for in sourcing technological advances made in this field. Providing subsidies on the raw materials used by this industry would further help in bringing the market cost of the product and thereby increasing sales of the farmers and making this healthy product available to mass consumers.