Ranchi, Nov. 23: This state may offer its food lovers a satisfying array of home grown vegetables and local meat, but when it comes to the leanest and healthiest of all meats —fish — choices are limited.

A walk to the local Machua Toli, the largest fish market in the state capital, goes to show Jharkhand’s dependence on its neighbours for its craving — and the state and its residents do crave for the fish.

Estimates suggest that Ranchi alone consumes around 20 tonnes of fish each day. Most of the trucks that line up in Machua Toli come from Andhra Pradesh — the largest supplier of fish to Jharkhand.

Ayub Khan, a fish vendor who has been in this trade for the past decade, explained: “Previously, because the demand for fish was rather low, what we brought in from Pithoria, Boria and Bundu would suffice for the local people and restaurants.

“But, an increasing population of fish lovers and a growing hotel business has ensured that we need to have bigger suppliers. So, Jharkhand’s vendors had to take help from its neighbours.”

Figures present with the fisheries department show that the annual demand for fish in Jharkhand is around 90,000 metric tonnes.

The state, in its last fiscal, could produce 32,000 metric tonnes.

Fishes brought in from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa fill the gap between local demand and supply.

“The problem with bringing the fish from neighbouring states is that once they reach our markets, they are a few days old and this reduces the flavour,” concedes Ayub, but adds that there is little that a local vendor can do.

It takes four to five days for a truck to reach Jharkhand from Andhra Pradesh.

A truck reaches Hazaribagh, Gumla, Bokaro or Giridih from where the supplies are sent to other markets of the state.

“Rohu and katla are the most commonly sold varieties. They are tasty and easy on the pockets. They sell any where between Rs 50 and Rs 70 a kilogram,” said Ejaz, a vendor at the Machua Toli.

He goes on to state that rohu, a fish of the carp family Cyprinidae, found commonly in rivers and freshwater lakes in and around the South Asia and South-east Asia is one of the most prominent fishes that is considered sacred by the Kayastha community in Uttar Pradesh, while its roe variety is sought-after by the Bengali population in the city.

Among the varieties, there are the betki and hilsa.

While the former is in the bracket of Rs 70 to Rs 100 per kilogram, the latter is the costliest item in the fish market, selling for Rs 150 and above for a kilogram.

“We do wish to end our dependence on Andhra Pradesh. For this, the fishery department has started training local fishermen for better production.

Distribution of fish seeds to some members of the Schedule Tribes at subsidised rates is also being done to encourage pisciculture,” said a source in the department.

“Locally bred fishes are fresher than those that are brought in from other states and have been frozen for a long time.

“No doubt that fishes from local farms taste better, too. But, since there is no extra supply, customers like me have no other option but to settle for the less-fresh item and shell out more for it,” rued Rita Lal, a resident.