The Background
The tradition of ornamental fish culture in West Bengal is more than 50 years old. The region enjoys a highly favorable agro-climatic condition, being in the Gangetic Bay of Bengal zone. Thousands of farmers, with women taking a major role, are engaged in the production and rearing of conventional tank bred ornamental fish in their back yards. Millions of fish like Gouramis, Barbs, Goldfish, Cichlids, Bettas, Sharks and life bearers are regularly produced and sold in the domestic market.

Global figure of export trade in ornamental fish: 8 billion US$

India’s share in export trade: 0.38 million US$

Share of the major Indian centers in ornamental fish export business: 

In recent years a consolidation of resources and efforts has taken place, thanks to the great initiative taken by the Government of West Bengal, especially by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture. The farmers, in small or large groups, are mobilized under the banner of numerous co-operative societies and Self Help groups of rural women. They are given intensive trainings on modern fish culture techniques and offered soft loans under various government schemes.

Our Society
The Tropical Aquaculture Co-operative Society (Indofinz) is the beneficiary of the ornamental fish project done by West Bengal State Fisheries Co-operative Federation (BENFISH). This society is formed with experienced professionals from the field. A modern fish farm is built near the city of Kolkata with all necessary facilities to ensure:

• Regular and bulk export business of ornamental fish, utilizing the huge available resources of West Bengal.
• Round the year production of quality seeds for the farmers through scientific breeding of popular species.
• Regular buying back of marketable fish from the farmers and encouraging self-employment.
• Stocking and quarantining the fish as per international norms before shipping them to foreign buyers.
• Bulk packaging and regular shipping of these fish to international market at an optimum shipping cost.
• Involving more and more rural women in the trade and ensuring direct and indirect employment.

Indofinz also offers extensive support to the farmers by providing useful information on intensive culture techniques, disease diagnostics and treatment as well as preventive practices.