Bhubaneswar: The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture observed the 18th National Fish Farmers’ Day at its Kausalyaganga campus here Tuesday.
The day is held to honour scientists KH Alikunhi and HL Chaudhury who had developed the induced breeding technique on this day in 1957.
Addressing the gathering, ICAR-CIFA Director (Acting) BR Pillai said the technique is hailed as a landmark in the history of fisheries.
During the last three decades the institute has contributed significantly towards the development of breeding and culture of economically important fish and shellfish, use of plastics in aquaculture like FRP portable hatchery, feeds for different life stages of fish, disease diagnostics kits and other useful things for farmers, Pillai said.
The institute has been providing technical back-up to the fisheries department of different states, NEH, NGOs and entrepreneurs.
It is also implementing Central flagship schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Krishi Kalyan Abhiyan, Farmer FIRST, Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav, digital transactions, Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan, Soil Health Card, Schedule Tribe Component etc, he said. PK Mishra, the Chancellor of the Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, was the chief guest.
He suggested combining traditional wisdom and modern technology in fish farming. He congratulated the scientists for making fish breeding easy and suggested using sensors and IT tools to know the number of fishes in big ponds and lakes as well as to study fish behaviour.
Mishra suggested collaboration between fish biologists and informatics scientists in order to improve technology. He called for preservation of water bodies and said the names of fishes should be in Sanskrit.
N. Sarangi, former Director, ICAR-CIFA was the Guest of Honour. He spoke about multiple breeding, off season breeding, bigger fingerling production and other breakthroughs in freshwater aquaculture.
He described how scientists made induced breeding easier and how this has contributed to India becoming the second largest fish producer in the world.
The government is promoting fish farming in a big way. He urged rural youth to take up fish farming as a business.
SD Gupta, former Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFA shared his experience of working with H.L. Chaudhary in Cuttack and his 40 years as a fishery scientist.
He also spoke about composite fish culture and how it got a boost from induced breeding. Gupta focused on water scarcity and called for water harvesting.
Around 90 fish farmers from Odisha and other parts of the country were present at the event. Six fish farmers from different states were felicitated for their contributions to the development of freshwater aquaculture.
The awardees are Bhabendra Mohanta, Mayurbhanj, Odisha; Umashankar Thakur, Kalahandi, Odisha; Sk. Saddam Ali, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal; Apachha Das, Puri, Odisha; Ashok Kumar Nayak, Cuttack, Odisha and Kalinga Marine Exports, Bhubaneswar.
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