Imphal, Oct. 13 -- Manipur's indigenous Meitei Sareng (Wallago attu), once considered locally extinct, is making a comeback through targeted fish farming initiatives under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. The revival has also helped reduce the state's dependence on freshwater shark imports from Myanmar and Bangladesh, reportedly cutting such imports by 60 per cent.

Launched in 2019, the Sareng Project has enabled local farmers to cultivate the prized freshwater fish, with specimens now weighing up to 6 kg. The initiative's progress is expected to be showcased at the Annual Fish Fair-Cum-Fish Crop Competition on November 11, 2026, held on the eve of the Ningol Chakkouba festival. More than 6,000 kg of Meitei Sareng is expected to be avai...