Harmful chicken waste used as fish feed

​Vijayawada/Eluru: With a view to the public demand for fish as it is better health-wise than chicken and mutton, some unscrupulous persons are virtually toying with the lives of people using harmful waste products available in chicken shops to grow fish in hundreds of acres in Krishna and West Godavari districts. People are bound to fall ill if they consume such fish.

Doctors point out that consuming such fish will seriously affect a person’s liver and kidney. They want the police to keep a close watch on the activities of fish-growers who adopt such undesirable practices

Previously paddy was being grown in these lands. Now prawns and fish are being extensively cultivated, leading to revenue of lakhs of rupees, using these waste products.

These products are being transported from neighbouring states, since their normal cultivation has become less remunerative, with scope for less profits, taking into consideration the demand for fish in the two districts.

Recently such waste products being transported from Hyderabad and Nalgonda was seized by the Krishna district police. The products were confiscated at Garikapadu check-post while being moved in 20 lorries at Kanchikacharla in five vans and at Hanuman Junction in five other vehicles.

Use of such waste products by fish growers is found to be attractive as only one-fourth of the cost which is normally spent on fish feed is incurred by them. Also, fish production is quicker--- only two and a half to three months---as against the normal period of four-five months, when waste products are used.

It is an open secret at fish ponds that such products are used in the cultivation of cat fish which resembles Murrel. Some farmers are expressing anguish that such practices are leading to pollution of tanks.

Doctors point out that consuming such fish will seriously affect a person’s liver and kidney. They want the police to keep a close watch on the activities of fish-growers who adopt such undesirable practices.

Such chicken waste products are being extensively used for fish cultivation in Kaikalur, Kolletikota, Atapaka areas in Krishna district and in Paidichintapadu, Agadalalanka, Chettunnapadu in West Godavari district.

Beef is also being used for rearing fish in the two districts for several years. Yet officials of the Fisheries and Health departments continue to remain indifferent.

Speaking to The Hans India Dr Venkateswara Rao cautioned against the use of such waste products, as it would give rise to virus in those who consume such fish.

He says although the government has banned such fish some growers in Kaikalur (Krishna district) are persisting with the use of such products.