Aqua Culture in KAIPAD

After the harvest of paddy, the Kaipad field is left for aqua culture, especially for shrimp culture. Aqua culture in Kaipad is of traditional capture based. Immediately after the cessation of North East monsoon in November, the bunds around the fields will be strengthened using sticky mud and weeds, and wooden sluice gate (Mancha) will be fixed. The bund owners are different from owners of Kaipad field. During high tide, through the opened sluice, water will be entered in the Kaipad with high force. Along with the tidal current, fingerlings of prawn, crab and other fishes enter into the field. The quantity of  fingerlings depend upon the force and duration of tidal current. A conical shaped net with an opening will be fixed inside the Mancha during  tidal in flaw. The fingerlings of the prawn and other aqua creatures go inside the field through this but can not come out. After the tide, the net is removed and a filter is fixed to prevent the escape of prawn, fish fingerlings from Kaipad. Maximum water will be allowed to enter into Kaipad during two tides. After that, water is kept in the field two to three months allowing the fingerlings of prawns, fishes etc to mature. The paddy stubbles, algae, and other debris in Kaipad form  food material for the prawns, fishes and others. The debris of aqua culture later makes the Kaipad organically rich- a symbiotic relationship between rice and aqua creatures. Fish filtration at the sluice begins three to four days after the full moon day, and ends by three or four days after full moon day.  During these days a net is placed at the outlet of Mancha in the early morning, and prawns and fishes will be filtered during tidal outflow. This process is locally known as Kandi Koodal. The prawn and fish filtration will be done intensively till April 14th which is beginning of the new agriculture year. It is commonly known as Vishusankranthi day in Hindu mythology. The bund owners and the leased in fish harvesters do fishing intensively till this day. To get maximum prawn/fish harvest, two to four days prior toVishusankranthi day the bund owners allow anybody to do fishing with a guaranty that, half the harvest produce will be given to the bund owners. This practice is locally known as Kandi kalakkal means  churning the field. After Vishusankranthi day, the resource is open to the public,  anybody can fish from private paddy fields. During aqua culture season, people who are skilled in this work do prawn filtration and all related works on the bunds. As most of the works are done during night, small huts will be constructed on bunds and a watchman will be entrusted for security purpose and to prevent  pouching. There is fish filtration during monsoon season when there is crop in Kaipad, which is known as Varsha kettu but the quantity of catch will be less.

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