GIZ | Taking nutrition-sensitive carp-SIS polyculture technology to scale. Final project report: March 2021 to December 2024

Abstract

The project cracked new ground in aquaculture by overcoming a long-standing barrier: the absence of scalable seed production technologies for nutrient-rich small indigenous fish such as mola, swamp barb, pool barb, reba carp, tengara catfish, and climbing perch. Through applied research and locally adaptable innovation, the team developed simple, low-cost, and replicable hatchery protocols, enabling the production of over 52.57 million SIS seeds (approx. 20,782 kg of survived fry) in India (Assam and Odisha) and Bangladesh. Integrated into existing carp hatcheries, the innovation helps operators diversify incomes, enhance biodiversity, and improve diets—especially for women and children in low income communities.