Batakrushna Sahoo, the ‘Aquaman’ of Odisha, rose from humble beginnings to national recognition for revolutionising fish farming and empowering thousands through free training programmes and initiatives like Aqua Chaupal.
Known as the “Aquaman” of Odisha, unassuming farmer Batakrushna Sahoo isn’t one to fish for compliments. Thus, when his phone kept ringing and the voice at the other end kept telling him that he had been conferred with the Padma Shri, he repeatedly hung up.
“I thought it was a prank call. Little did I know that those repeated calls were about to place me and my small village of Sarakana (in Khordha district) in the national spotlight,” the 70-year-old recalled the “small incident” from 2020 with a chuckle.
Sahoo’s journey from humble beginnings to national recognition for revolutionising the aquaculture landscape of Odisha epitomises the triumph of resilience and innovation in the face of adversity. He guides more than 1,000 young men and women every year to make them future-ready in aquaculture.
Born into a world where floods and cyclones ravage the landscape with alarming regularity, his path to prominence was anything but easy.
For Sahoo, the turning point came in 1986, amidst the challenges of stagnant paddy yields and a dearth of quality fish in his village. Drawing inspiration from his forefathers and armed with newfound knowledge from training at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) and the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) in Khorda, he leased his village pond for three years at Rs 12,000 to leap into the world of fish farming.
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“I was very afraid about whether I’d be able to do it or not. Then I met Dr Radheshyam from CIFA, who assured me that I’d be able to recover my expenses if I followed his advice sincerely,” Sahoo said. In the following year, his farm generated Rs 24,000, compensating his overhead expenses and the lease amount.
Facing challenges such as transport limitations and inadequate fish preservation models, Sahoo adopted innovative approaches like hapa breeding technology and circular hatcheries to protect fishes from natural calamities.
Despite setbacks like the devastation wrought by Cyclone Fani in 2019, he persevered, expanding his operations to own 16 ponds and supply fish not just locally, but across multiple states. Sahoo and his family rear fish like rohu, catla, mrigal and ornamental species that are high in demand.
With each passing year, Sahoo’s efforts bore fruit.
“Roughly 10 families from our neighbourhood are reaping the benefits of fish farming. We have expanded our operations to 20 districts in Odisha. Recently, we introduced the cultivation of colourful fish species and have ventured into shrimp farming as well,” said Hrushikesh Panda, a close associate of the Sahoo family.
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For Sahoo, the Padma Shri award serves as validation of a lifetime dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in fish farming. But beyond the accolades, his greatest legacy lies in the lives he has touched and the futures he has shaped.
In 2009, he established the state’s first aquaculture field school with the help of CIFA. It became a platform where Sahoo trains the future generation of fish farmers and rural entrepreneurs on fish farming in Odisha by offering lessons in rearing carp fishes, fish breeding, taking ample care of hatcheries, and ways to increase spawn production and management, all free of cost.
Sahoo became the first hatchery owner to sign an agreement with the National Fisheries Development Board on National Fish Farmers Day in 2018. In July 2023, he further cemented his legacy with the inauguration of Aqua Chaupal, a platform for aspiring fish entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and address challenges in aquaculture practices. As the driving force behind this initiative, Sahoo continues to inspire and empower the next generation of fish farmers through interactive sessions and hands-on training.
His innovative aquaculture techniques have attracted the attention of scientists nationwide. Scientists and researchers from CIFA and KVK regularly conduct research at his aquafarm to develop technologies for enhanced productivity. His traditional methods on fish farming have earned recognition and are now embraced by the NFDB-NFFBB.
Yet, amidst the ebb and flow of nature’s trials, Sahoo remains grounded, lamenting the lack of government support for fish farming in Odisha. Despite battling chronic illness, he remains undeterred, tirelessly advocating policies that would transform Odisha into a hub for aquaculture innovation.
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The lead image at the top shows fish being bred under the guidance of Batakrushna Sahoo. (Photo by Devashish Biswal)
Devashish Biswal is a graduate of English journalism at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal. He has an eye for stories with the potential to grab people’s attention.
