Imphal: Indigenous table fish worth more than Rs 80 crore, weighing over 200,000 kg, were sold at the 47th Annual Fish Fair-cum-Fish Crop Competition 2026 at Hapta Kangjeibung on Tuesday.
Organised by the Department of Fisheries, the one-day event was held from 8 am to 4 pm on the eve of the Ningol Chakkouba festival.
The fair aims to reduce Manipur’s dependence on fish imports, which cost the state an estimated Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore annually, officials said. They emphasised the importance of boosting local production, noting that 95 per cent of the state’s population identifies as non-vegetarian.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh inaugurated the event in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Losii Dikho and MLA H. Dingo Singh. The Chief Minister called for collective efforts to make Manipur self-reliant in fish production.
The fair featured 150 stalls representing eight districts, with local fish farmers displaying a variety of indigenous and other popular fish species.
The varieties on sale included the highly sought-after Meitei Sareng, Pengba, Khabak, Ngaton, Rohu and Common Carp.
The Fisheries Department introduced a prescribed pricing structure based on different weight categories to ensure that consumers could purchase fish at regulated rates.
Under the official price list, Meitei Sareng was priced between Rs 1,050 and Rs 1,450 per kg, depending on its weight. Ngakra was priced at a fixed rate of Rs 795 per kg.
Pengba and Khabak were priced between Rs 445 and Rs 545 per kg, while Ngaton was available at Rs 445 per kg.
Among the more affordable varieties, Common Carp and Silver Carp were priced from Rs 215 per kg. Tunghanbi had the lowest fixed price at Rs 145 per kg.
The department will announce cash awards for participating farmers at a later date.
The top-performing fish producer will receive Rs 2 lakh, while the second and third prize winners will be awarded Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh, respectively.
The leading indigenous fish producer will receive Rs 50,000. In addition, 20 consolation prizes of Rs 20,000 each will be awarded.
Outstanding district fish-producing officers from the hill and valley regions will also receive Rs 30,000 each.