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Bhubaneswar, July 12: The department of fisheries of the government of Assam has conferred scientist BC Mohapatra with lifetime achievement award. The principal scientist of ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) has been selected for his dedicated service to the development of aquaculture in Assam and the Northeast by introducing FRP hatcheries. His work included production of quality seeds and training in fisheries.
The award was given away at National Fish Farmers’ Day-2016 function held at Meen Bhawan in Guwahati Sunday. It was also attended by Parimal Sukla Baidya, the minister for fisheries, among other dignitaries.
Mohapatra told Orissa POST that he was overwhelmed by the achievement. Receiving the award has been special for me as an Oriya. The technology that I invented in 2006 is becoming popular in Assam and other Northeastern states. I am happy that my technique has improved fish production in the state and is helping farmers. In Orissa, too, my technology is being utilised but few farmers are taking up the technique compared with other states. More awareness is required to make farmers aware of the benefits of the technology.”
Mohapatra is known for his FRP carp hatchery technology under All India Coordinated Research Project on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology operating at ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar. The technology was released and commercialised in 2006. By now it has been adopted by 26 states.
A native of Gangadharpur in Khurda, Mohapatra completed graduation in fisheries science from OUAT in 1987 and a masters degree in mariculture from CMFRI under affiliation to Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in 1989. He topped the subject.
He was awarded a doctorate in mariculture from CUSAT in 1994 and got his MBA in HRD in 1999 from IGNOU, New Delhi. He was awarded a doctorate of science, the highest degree in science, from Berhampur University, Orissa in 2001.
Mohapatra has completed 30 research projects and was involved in seven others as investigator since 1995. He has penned 10 books and more than 100 research papers in national and international journals. He has commercialised several technologies, the most notable of which is Portable FRP Carp Hatchery Technology for 1.0-1.2 million fish seed (spawn) per operation.
