Across four acres of land, ten ponds teem with tens of thousands of fishlings. Along the paths leading to these water bodies, cages on either side shelter Persian cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, while grow bags brimming with fresh vegetables line the edges. Beyond the ponds, verdant fields of paddy and produce stretch as far as the eye can see. The farm that AS Binoy of Pazhaveedu Attiyil runs is indeed an example to agricultural diversity.

Binoy entered fish farming 18 years ago, guided by his father, AP Sasidharan, who was also a fish farmer. He attended training programmes organised by the Fisheries Department and the Marine Fisheries Research Institute to learn the scientific aspects of fish farming and also earned a diploma as a Hatchery Technician.

Building on his knowledge, Binoy transformed the 10 ponds on his four-acre property into a thriving hatchery. Last year, his Pamba Fish Farm hatched 50 lakh fishlings, 30 lakh of which were supplied by the Fisheries Department. The rest were sold to other fish farmers. Every month, tens of thousands of fishlings are produced, ranging from carp at 60 paise per fish to Giant Gourami worth ₹60 each.

Binoy breeds varieties such as Katla, Rohu, Grass Carp, Mrigal, Red Tilapia, Chithralad, Malaysian Vala (Ribbon Fish), Varaal (Snakehead fish) and Karimeen (Pearlspot). While Tilapia, Pearlspot, and Varaal breed naturally, other varieties require induced breeding, supported by a specialised breeding pool.

Fish lay eggs within 18 hours and in about 29 hours, the eggs hatch. Fishlings are moved to ponds after seven days. Each pond is cleaned before introducing a new batch. Two days after liming and adding bleaching powder, water is filled and parameters such as pH value, hardness and ammonia content are tested regularly. Urea mixed with superphosphate and raw cow dung is added to create a nutrient-rich environment. This generates phytoplankton, the initial food for fishlings during their first four days.

Fishlings are sold once they reach about a month old, making way for fresh batches in the ponds. Binoy cultivates paddy on eight acres near his house and grows vegetables on 28 cents of land. He also keeps four Persian cats, several rabbits and guinea pigs. His innovative use of grow bags filled with mud from pond cleaning along the pond banks allows vegetable cultivation without extra fertilisers, as the pond water naturally nourishes the plants.