Quality Seed Selection and Stocking: The Foundation of Successful Carp Farming

Indian Major Carps (IMCs), particularly catla (Labeo catla), rohu (Labeo rohita) and mrigal (Cirrhinus mrigala), play a significant role in India's freshwater aquaculture sector. The success and profitability of carp farming largely depend on the availability of healthy, genetically superior and disease-free fish seed. Scientific seed production involves appropriate pond preparation, stage-specific stocking densities, balanced feeding, seed quality assessment, safe transportation and proper acclimatization before stocking. Broodstock selection and management are equally important for maintaining genetic diversity, preventing inbreeding depression and improving reproductive performance, growth and disease resistance. Recent advancements, including improved Jayanti Rohu, CIFABROOD feed, FRP eco-hatcheries, AI- and IoT-enabled monitoring, CIFA-Brood-Vac and milt cryopreservation, offer new opportunities for enhancing seed production and hatchery efficiency. Integrating scientific farm-level practices with modern hatchery technologies can improve seed survival, production performance and economic returns. Such an integrated approach is essential for strengthening sustainable and economically viable carp aquaculture in India