The carp is a freshwater fish that is now popular across India. But it was not originally from India. This fish was brought from elsewhere.
The common carp was introduced to India relatively recently in 1939. The British imported the fish from Hungary to India due to its hardy nature and suitability for aquaculture in ponds and rice fields.
What is Carp Fish Called in India?
Though we call it carp in English, this fish has local Indian names too. In West Bengal, it is called gibi. In Maharashtra, it is known as karpoli or koi. In Punjab, some people call it thooti koi. But the English name has also become common side by side.
- Gibi (Bengali)
- Karpoli (Marathi)
- Thooti Koi (Punjabi)
Where is Carp Fish From?
The common carp comes from Europe and Central Asia. It lives in lakes and rivers over there. Long ago, the Chinese started farming carp by keeping it in ponds. They raised this fish for food. The carp was easy to farm and provided good meat. Over time, carp farming spread to other parts of Asia too.
How Carp Came to India
In 1939, the British brought the Hungarian carp to India. British officers introduced a few of these hardy carp into Indian ponds and fields for farming. These carp did very well here. They adapted easily to the local conditions. Farming them was straightforward and profitable. Soon, Indian farmers also started raising many carp.
Why Carp Became Popular
There are good reasons why carp has become so sought-after in India. Firstly, it grows very fast in small water bodies like ponds. Secondly, carp breeding is easy. Each female produces lakhs of eggs at a time! So farmers enjoy high yield within months. Thirdly, carp fish is affordable for poorer families too. Because of these reasons, fish farmers in many Indian states greatly prefer carp.
Easy farming – Carp breeding is straightforward with high yields
Rapid growth – Carp grow fast in small water bodies
Affordability – Carp provides an affordable protein source
Adaptability – Carp can tolerate varying conditions
Good profits – Carp farming is lucrative for small farmers
Taste – The tender white flesh and earthy flavor
Origins of the Common Carp
The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is a freshwater fish belonging to the family Cyprinidae. This fish species traces its origins to wild carp found in Europe and Central Asia. It has been domesticated in China for over a thousand years as a farmed fish.
Adoption Across India
Initially imported for farming, the carp has become extremely popular. It is now bred extensively across eastern and northern India including:
- West Bengal
- Odisha
- Bihar
- Assam
- Tripura
Carp as Food in India
From a foreign introduction, carp fish has been wholeheartedly embraced as food in India now. Carp is enjoyed by rich and poor alike across many states today. People cook it as fried fish, fish cutlets, fish curries and more. Its tender white meat and earthy flavors have made the carp a popular food item. It has become an integral part of Indian fish production and culture now!