Hatchery-Based Mass Seed Production of Nutrition-Sensitive Tengara Catfish (Mystus tengara)

Abstract

Tengara catfish (Mystus tengara) is a small indigenous freshwater species valued for its high nutritional content, excellent taste, and strong market demand across South Asia. Despite its suitability for integration into carp-based polyculture and nutrition-sensitive aquaculture systems, large-scale farming of tengara has been constrained by the absence of standardized hatchery seed production techniques. This manual presents a practical, low-cost, and scalable hatchery-based protocol for induced breeding and mass seed production of tengara, developed under the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program. The guideline provides step-by-step instructions covering broodstock pond preparation, brood management, induced breeding, spawning, egg incubation, hatchling harvesting, packaging, transportation, and nursery rearing. Designed for easy adoption by small- and medium-scale hatcheries, this protocol supports reliable seed supply, promotes nutrition-sensitive aquaculture, and contributes to improved household nutrition, income generation, and food security.