The district fishery development office in coordination with the fish development offices of Hailakandi and Karimganj is concentrating on scientific measures to boost up fish production in Barak Valley. According to Raqibul Haque, fishery development officer, Cachar, convenor of the programme, the total fish production in the valley is around 30,460 mt while the demand is 40,000 mt. Giving further information, Raqibul Haque said of the total fish produced, 4 to 5 % is exported to Mizoram and Meghalaya which have shortage of fish supply despite abundant river system and also the possibilities of fish rearing. He added to say in order to meet the deficit in demand, 9 mt fish is brought from West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Taking into account the overall shortage of fish production and the gap between demand and supply, one of the measures adopted by the department is to provide training in fingerling rearing and fish production, training to farmers of the three districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi has been taken up which started from December 6 to conclude on December 9. The 4 day training has 100 farmers who are equally divided in two batches. The emphasis during this training period is on seed management, fingerling rearing, wetland management and production. Such training is conducted from time to time. The farmers are detailed about the latest method and technology by experts on the subject. The training to first batch is concluded, and the training to second batch has begun. The entire programme is financed and supported by National Fish Development Board, Hyderabad. Kapil Debnath is acting as resource person to provide vital information to the farmers on fish farming. He is from Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Arunachal. Other persons with expertise are Mohan Teron, Fishery Development Officer, Hailakandi, S K Das, Assistant Fishery Officer, Cachar, Dr Manoranjan Sarkar, surgeon (Veterinary Department), Dr Sarkar is training the farmers on how to contain spread of diseases on fishes. According to a study of the ecology department of Assam University, the fishes of water bodies and rivers are found to contain cancerous growth syndrome. It is due to heavy pollution of the waters. Others coordinating the training are Raqibul Haque and Ranjit Dev, fishery development officer, Cachar. The team of experts and fishery officers according to the guidelines are making spot verification of fish farming by farmers and their fisheries. The farmers during the visit are given inputs about latest technology and how to rear the fingerlings in a healthy and conducive manner. Nazrul Islam among all the farmers has the largest fish farming spread over an area of 300 bighas of land. He owns in all 24 fisheries. The team of experts also visited fish seed farming at Bhaga which is run and managed by the state government and organized by district fishery development office, Silchar. During the last Namami Barak festival, the fishery department sold out 600 kg of fish of varieties. The consumers made a beeline for the fish stall set up in the food zone. The preference for the fishes in the stall has been due to the fact that they were all from fresh running water. Raqibul Haque pointed out that the fishery department has only one regret, it could not meet the huge demand for the fish.