In Odisha, India, ornamental fish farming, culture and seed production are being utilised by self help groups to provide livelihoods for poor people in rural communities. The objective of self help groups is to sustainably increase the income of poor families to bring them above the poverty line. This is being achieved through a process of social mobilisation, training and capacity building, and provision of some necessary facilities to get started.

This article documents the evolution of ornamental fish farming by the Pragati Self Help Group in Bhatunia Village, including the capacity building activities that were undertaken, culture practices, feeding, marketing and economics, and their interactions with scientists from the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, who provided advice and support.