BHADRAK: Despite having a vast network of water bodies and a large fishing community, Bhadrak district is struggling to meet its local demand for fish. The district currently faces a 50% deficit in production, making it heavily dependent on supplies from Andhra Pradesh to feed its population.
The Demand-Supply Gap
According to official reports, Bhadrak requires approximately 1.5 lakh quintals of fish annually. However, the current local production stands at only 75,000 quintals. This massive shortfall has allowed traders from Andhra Pradesh to dominate the local markets in Tihidi, Dolasahi, Pirhat, Dhamara, Chandbali, Basudevpur, and Bhadrak town.
Current Production Infrastructure
Fish farming is currently active across 2,745 ponds in the district. The block-wise distribution of these ponds is as follows:
- Basudevpur: 701 ponds
- Chandbali: 606 ponds
- Bhadrak: 350 ponds
- Tihidi: 334 ponds
- Bant: 325 ponds
- Bhandaripokhari: 312 ponds
- Dhamnagar: 130 ponds
Furthermore, women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under Mission Shakti are managing 2,723 ponds. Freshwater fish are also harvested from 430 natural water sources across the district.
Shrimp and Marine Fishing
The district also has a significant presence in brackish water farming with 5,933 artificial tanks (gheries) dedicated to shrimp cultivation, primarily in Chandbali (3,084) and Basudevpur (2,639). Additionally, there are 11 fish landing centers in these two coastal blocks. To support marine fishing, 592 boats operate across centers like Dhamara and Karanpalli, while another 348 boats are stationed at centers including Chudamani and Kasia.
The Fishing Community
Bhadrak is home to a massive workforce of approximately 1.33 lakh fishermen. The highest concentrations are in Chandbali (51,803) and Basudevpur (46,750), followed by Tihidi (13,485) and other blocks.
Call for Action
Local intellectuals and stakeholders believe that the current production does not reflect the district’s true potential. They have urged the Fisheries Department to implement long-term strategic plans and provide better government incentives to local farmers. Boosting local production is seen as the only way to end the dominance of outside traders and achieve self-sufficiency in fish production.
