More than 5,000 acres in about 35 villages in the district are waterlogged resulting in financial losses to farmers. The government authorities have claimed that the farmers are switching over to fish farming and earning handsome amounts out of it. Official sources said 120 farmers had adopted fish farming in 350 acres waterlogged land in villages, namely Shajrana, Bahadurkhera, Sayydanwali, Kala Tiba, Kera Khera, Bahalwasi, Dhaban Kokrian, Khui Khera and Burz Hanumangarh. Deputy Commissioner Isha Kalia said 50 per cent to 90 per cent subsidy is offered to the farmers to set up fish farming infrastructure. Deputy Director, Fisheries Department, Fazilka, Rajinder Kataria said the farmers were earning Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.20 lakh per acre in these areas. Dharam Chand, a farmer of Shajrana village, said his land which was once very fertile but had been lying unused following the waterlogging problem since 1980. Now he had set up a water pond in 2.5 acres of land and was earning Rs 2.5 lakh per year out of it. Kataria said the farmers had been rearing the fish from 16 to 20 quintals per acre. The bulk buyers of the fish are traders from Delhi and Ludhiana besides the nearby areas who used to come to the pond and collect the fish of their own choice, claimed Kataria. The Deputy Director said shrimp farming in waterlogged area was also suitable with salinity of 5 ppt (parts per thousand) and the farmers could earn Rs 4 to 5 lakh per acres by rearing shrimp. Making moolah * More than 5,000 acres in about 35 villages in Fazilka district are waterlogged * Official sources said 120 farmers had adopted fish farming on 350 acres of waterlogged land in villages * Deputy Director, Fisheries Department, Fazilka, Rajinder Kataria said the farmers were earning Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh per acre in these areas