Aquaculture trial in Goa's Khazan lands shows strong potential for coastal livelihoods

Merces, Goa: An experimental aquaculture trial conducted in Goa's traditional Khazan lands has delivered promising results, demonstrating the potential of scientific fish farming as a sustainable livelihood option for coastal communities grappling with declining agricultural productivity. The initiative, supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), was undertaken in Merces village by researchers working on strategies to revive the state's unique Khazan ecosystem through climate-resilient and income-generating interventions. Khazan lands, an indigenous agro-ecological system found along Goa's estuarine belt, have historically supported agriculture, fisheries and salt production. However, changing climatic conditions, increased salinity intrusion, soil acidity, irregular maintenance of embankments and drainage structures, and a gradual decline in traditional farming practices have rendered large tracts of these lands underutilised in recent decades. Against this backdrop, researchers initiated a field-scale demonstration to assess the feasibility of multispecies fish farming under low-cost pond-based systems in saline-prone Khazan areas. The trial was conducted in collaboration with a local farmer and aimed at identifying practical livelihood opportunities that can be replicated across similar coastal landscapes. Two earthen ponds measuring approximately 360 square metres and 300 square metres were developed for the experiment. The ponds were stocked with a diverse mix of...