Imphal: Over 1 lakh kilograms of various indigenous fish for table purposes, worth more than Rs 35 crore, were sold at the 3rd Emoinu Fish Festival in Manipur, held at Hapta Kangjeibung in Palace Compound, Imphal, on Wednesday, officials reported on Thursday.
Manipur Fisheries Director T Phulen Meitei said that the fish production recorded at the 3rd festival was approximately 1 lakh kg, exceeding the sale target of 80,000 kg.
At the 2nd festival held in 2024, a total of 86,286 kg of fish worth Rs 25.8 crore were sold.
The festival, organised by the Fisheries Department, Government of Manipur, was held as part of the Ima Imoinu Iratpa celebrations and served as a one-stop destination for religious offerings.
T Phulen stated that Manipur requires about 64,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fish annually, of which 40,000 MT are produced locally.
The remaining deficit is sourced from states such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal. Over 140 stalls were set up at the festival venue.
The variety of fish sold included Meitei Sareng (Wallago attu), Rohu, Common Carp, Silver Carp, Pengba, Khabak, Ngaton, Ngahei, Ukabi, Porom, Tunghanbi, Ngakra (catfish), Muka Nga, Ngasang, and Nung-nga.
The government has fixed prices for the fish for public sale. Local varieties such as Pengba and Khabak were priced at Rs 450 per kg for fish below 300 grams and Rs 550 per kg for those above 550 grams; Ngaton Rs 450 per kg for fish below 2 kg; Ngahei Rs 220 per kg and Rs 300 per kg for fish above 3 kg; Ukabi Rs 250 per kg; Porom Rs 300 per kg; and Tunghanbi at Rs 150 per kg.
Shareng weighing around 1 kg was sold at Rs 1,100 per kg.
At the festival, Catla was priced at Rs 240 per kg for fish weighing below 2 kg, Rs 300 per kg for fish above 2 kg, and Rs 400 per kg for those above 5 kg.
Rohu was sold at Rs 230 per kg for fish under 1 kg, Rs 300 per kg for fish above 1 kg, and Rs 350 per kg for fish over 2 kg.
Mrigal ranged from Rs 230 to Rs 300 per kg depending on size, while Common Carp cost Rs 250 per kg for fish below 1 kg and Rs 300 per kg for those weighing 2 kg and above.
Grass Carp was priced at Rs 260 per kg for fish below 2 kg, Rs 280 per kg for those 2 kg and above, and Rs 400 per kg for fish above 3 kg.
Silver Carp was sold at Rs 220 per kg for fish below 3 kg and Rs 240 per kg for larger specimens, while Bighead Carp fetched Rs 350 per kg for fish weighing 3 kg and above.