Trout fish lifts Sikkim woman out of poverty

From selling vegetables to overcoming poverty, Kopila Pandey, 40, of Pangthang village in Gangtok district, moved to rearing fish. Now she is one of Sikkim’s most successful fish farmers, having received various accolades. Here’s her journey – in her own words.

I was born into a very poor family and my father was a farmer in Gangtok city, the capital of Sikkim. I was the youngest, with two elder brothers. I couldn’t study beyond class II because of financial constraints. I saw my father toiling hard but still we couldn’t get three square meals a day. 

I got married to Padam Bahadur Pandey, a farmer, in 2006 when I was 23. He lived in Pangthang village in Gangtok district, around 7 km from my ancestral house. 

I dreamed of a rosy future without financial worries. But soon I realised that my husband’s family was also poor. 

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It took me a few months to come to terms with the situation as the circumstances were no different than in my parent’s home. 

I decided to help my husband to supplement the income. I started selling the vegetables from our small farm on the roadside as our house is near the main road. 

Then with my income from selling vegetables, we bought two cows to sell milk to neighbours. By then I’d become the mother of two girls. 

In 2017, the state fisheries department officials contacted me and told me that my house location was suitable for fish farming. 

Because we live close to a waterfall and get water round the clock, which is necessary for rainbow trout farming. Rainbow trout grows in high altitudes and mostly in cold climatic conditions. 

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I started rainbow trout farming the same year after the government provided us with 2,000 fish seeds. 

I built a water tank for fish cultivation. There was severe mortality in the first year as I was new to the business. 

But I still managed to earn Rs 40,000 within a few months after selling the fingerlings and full-grown fish. 

Rainbow trout is in huge demand in Sikkim and usually sells for Rs 1,000–1,500 per kg depending upon the demand. I started making a profit and my interest in fish farming grew. 

Now I have four tanks and produce around 1,500 kg fish annually and earn Rs 15-16 lakhs. 

I also earn by selling milk from the two cows. I’m also into poultry farming though on a smaller scale.

I send my daughters to good schools. I’ve built a new house with my income. 

The state government honoured me with the Best Fish Farmer Woman State Award last year. This July also ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Kolkata awarded me for my contribution to the fisheries sector. 

My achievements are an example for those who believe that lack of education and poverty are a hurdle to success. 

I stay in a mountainous remote northeastern state, but still, I’ve managed to make my mark in the fisheries sector and earn a decent income. If I can do it, anybody can. It just requires an indomitable will and the desire to achieve your goal. 

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