The commercially important fish which contribute substantially to the
total inland fish production in South Asia are Aorichthys aor, A. seen
ghala, Mystus cavasius, M. gulio, Rita rita, Wallago attu, Ompok bimac
ulatus, Heteropneustes fossilis, Clarias batrachus, Silonia silondia a
nd Pangasius pangasius. These are widely distributed in all the South
Asian countries; Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar ex
cept Bhutan and the Maldives. In comparison to carp culture, catfish c
ulture has just begun in the region. Techniques of seed production hav
e been standardized in C. batrachus, H. fossilis and W. attu which can
be spawned even repeatedly at short intervals of 30-40 days, Such met
hods are, however, in an experimental stage for other species. C. batr
achus is the most popular and its traditional culture in rice fields i
s well known, It is now being incorporated in carp ponds and semi-inte
nsive and intensive monoculture systems have also been developed, The
species fetches a very high price in India and Bangladesh and has a gr
eat export potential. C. macrocephalus and C. gariepinus have been int
roduced in Bangladesh with considerable success but their impact on th
e indigenous species needs to be studied. A vast grow-out potential ex
ists all over the region for small catfish in carp nurseries as a seco
nd crop. Extensive culture of large catfish in derelict ponds could be
an intermediate step in their improvement through control of all tras
h fish. With increased seed availability, semi-intensive and intensive
mono-culture systems, being tried experimentally, could be developed
in the view of an industrial production of catfishes as new export ite
ms from the region, if conditions for proper water quality management,
aeration and partial replenishment, and availability of adequate pell
eted feed could be met.