Ex-Gurkha transforms district’s economy with a trout farm in the shadow of Machhapuchhre
GOLD AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
The trout is a carnivore fish from the salmon family.
It is native to lakes and rivers of North America west of the rockies, but is now farmed across the world.
When Amrit Gurung (pic, right) retired from the Indian Army, he wanted to come home and start a business but his savings were not enough. He found a job in Japan and worked there for nine years.
He returned from Japan six years ago with not just cash, but also a passion for rainbow trout. He felt the clear, cool streams of his native Kaski were ideal for starting a fish business. Today, Gurung’s Gandaki Rainbow Trout Farm produces 15 tons of fish a year, and with expansion plans underway he will be raising that to 50 tons a year.
Gurung has also been training other farmers to farm trout, and now there are five big trout farms in Kaski and surrounding districts. Gurung doesn’t see them as competition, he feels there is enough business to go around and fish farming could uplift the livelihoods of Nepalis and convince them to stay home instead of migrating to work.
One of the pioneer trout farmers in Nepal is Purna Bahadur Lama who used to work at the government fishery farm in Trisuli. After retirement in 1997, he started raising Japanese rainbow trout with one pool and 400 fish and with a grant from the National Agriculture and Resource Centre expanded his farm and restaurant.
See also:
Fishy business
Grilled trout recipe
Ingredients
4 rainbow trout
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1/2 tablespoon fresh ground pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Directions
Clean trout and remove head
Preheat grill to 400 degrees
Coat outside of trout with oil
Sprinkle salt and pepper on inside of trout
Add lemon juice to trout
Place trout on grill, reduce heat
Flip when grill side becomes white
Serve trout immediately
Health benefits
Trout contains fat, but they come from Omega-3 fatty acids which
reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, arterial clogging. Trout also:
Reduces bad cholesterol (LDL) as well as blood pressure
Protects the body against circulatory problems like thrombosis and gout.
Has very little sodium
A filet of trout has up to 19 grams of healthy protein
Trout has cholesterol, but that is compensated by fat burning properties
One filet makes up most of the body’s requirement of Vitamin B12, B6, Niacin
Rich in potassium, phosphorous and selenium, minerals essential for good health