: The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, in collaboration with the Association of Aquaculturists organised an international workshop on “Genetic Improvement of Performance Traits: A Genome-Wide Selection Perspective” on October 28.
 
The focus was on advancement and challenges in the area of genomics tools developed, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and quantitative trail loci (QTL) identification and implementation of GS in plants, animal and fisheries sector.
 
The inaugural session was graced by Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science and Animal Science) Dr JK Jena as chief guest and Assistant Director General, (Inland Fishery) Dr BP Mohanty as guest of honour. Dr Jena emphasized on development of genomic resources and integration of genomic selection in aquaculture species. To meet national food security, researches in frontier areas like genomics hold immense potential. He called for more collaborative works among the researchers to produce useful products/technologies for the benefit of stakeholders in aquaculture.
 
ADG (Inland Fishery) Dr BP Mohanty spoke about the role of Aeromonashydrophila resistance and Jayanti Rohu in the food production sector in India. He also emphasized on the prospects and challenges of the aquaculture to the food production sector in India. Professor Subha Bhassu from University of Malaya mentioned about the work experiences with the ICAR- CIFA. Research should be done for the less privileged people of the society, she added.
 
Director, ICAR-CIFA Dr Pramoda Kumar Sahoo welcomed the dignitaries and mentioned about the genomics researches carried out at ICAR-CIFA. Organising Secretary Dr P Das briefed about the purpose of the workshop. Secretary, Association of Aquaculturists Dr SN Sethi presented the vote of thanks.
 
Eminent speakers from outside India and from different institutions within India participated and deliberated on recent advances and challenges in the field of genomics and genomic selection in plant, animal and fisheries.