Kailali and Kanchanpur emerging as fish farming hubs, fulfilling 75% of regional demand

Dhangadhi: Kailali and Kanchanpur districts in Sudurpaschim Province are rapidly emerging as key centers for fish farming, producing 10,000 metric tons of fish annually and meeting 75 percent of the region’s demand.

According to the Fisheries Development Center, Geta, the two districts boast a total of 2,542 lakes and ponds—both natural and artificial—with 1,375 hectares of land currently being utilized for fish farming. This area accounts for one-third of the country’s total fish farming surface area. Of these water bodies, 194 natural lakes are in Kailali and 48 in Kanchanpur.

Over 5,380 commercial farmers in the two districts are engaged in fish farming activities. The average fish productivity in the Gholtal lakes of the region stands at 2.3 metric tons per hectare.

Fish farming in Kailali and Kanchanpur has significantly contributed to the local economy, with the sector making up 0.5 percent of Sudurpaschim’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Despite the production growth, fish consumption in the region remains low. Nirmal Bahadur Khati, Head of the Fisheries Development Center, noted that the average person in Sudurpaschim consumes only 2.5 kilograms of fish annually. He emphasized that the culture of consuming fish has yet to fully develop in the region.

The remaining 25 percent of fish demand is fulfilled through imports from India and other provinces.