In pictures: Fresh water prawn hatchery in Vattavan
by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai
The road from Udappu town to Vattavan is bumpy and dusty, and nestled through Coconut, Palmyrah trees and neatly woven palm fence allies.
On a Sunny and hot day on the sandy road, it took 45 minutes to reach Vattavan from Udappu on a motor bike at the speed of 190km/hour .
“You are not used to the route, so please control the speed, and do not ride fast” cautioned Lakshman, who led the journey on his Suzuki motor bike.
My journey on a Hero Honda motor bike began at noon on an extremely hot day from Udappu town to fresh water prawn hatchery in Vattavan. It was an unusual (A Tamil woman riding a motor bike!) scene to be witnessed in a remote village like Udappu.
Normally it takes an hour and a half to reach Vattavan from Udappu town. Then we crossed a thin layer of sand bridge surrounded by muddy water with barefoot in burning Sun, and walked through the hatchery, while the owner of the prawn hatchery Lakshman showing and explaining; the Sun’s rays were fierce over Vattavan.
Water quality standards for fresh water shrimp should be good
The meat of fresh water shrimp is soft. Vattavan shrimp is sold in bulk to Colombo wholesale dealers
Fresh water prawn can be cultivated from various juvenile stages
Three months old baby prawn
Periyaswamy Chandrakumar from Maskeliya has been working at a prawn hatchery for three years
Periyasamy Chandrakumar from Maskeliya who works in the prawn hatchery taken on a familiarisation tour. He has been working here for more than five years. A young and active person takes care of the prawn hatchery day and night. He has a big task of taking care of the growing prawns from crows and thieves.
Prawn feed is fed on time
“Prawn are like babies, they need very careful attention, feed them on time, prevent them from infectitious diseases, and they will gradually grow” said Periyasamy Chandrakumar while throwing prawn feed into the fresh water. He showed the growing tiny little prawns, taken from the bottom of the water in a net tray. Growing prawns are needed t be protected from crows. There is a nylon thread fence which is woven across the fresh water.
Schedule of feeding time
“Vattavan is suitable for shrimp farming” according to Lakshman
Chandrakumar’s pet dog, Kanthasamy at the hatchery
Hurricane lamp is lit in the hatchery
We stopped on the way back to quench fresh King Coconut while the mild sea breeze refreshed us in the afternoon; it was a coconut grove in Vattavan. Coconut palm trees are planted in a row. Watering every other day, helps the coconut palm trees to grow healthy.
A small cottage, beautifully woven with dried coconut palm leaves is in the same compound.
Vattavan is in Puttlam district of North-West Province, Sri Lanka.
Recent Comments