The Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), held a scientists-farmers interaction meet on “Freshwater aquaculture as livelihood option for tribal farmers” at Aranga village under Niladriprasad panchayat of Banpur Block in Khordha district on Tuesday.
The main objective was to make people aware of fish culture and its benefits and also to increase fish production and productivity from their ponds; production and supply of quality fish seed in the locality; adoption of better management practices (BMPs) for enhancement of fish production in a sustainable way.
ICAR-CIFA had adopted 20 villages of the panchayat (25 ponds of 21 acre water area) as Area Saturation Model of fishery technology dissemination programme and supplied aquaculture inputs such as, lime, fish seed and feed to the beneficiaries.
The meeting was attended by PK Mohan as chief guest, ICAR-CIFA Director Dr P Jayasankar, besides officials from various line departments and over 300 fish farmers of Niladriprasad panchayat. The ICAR-CIFA Director apprised the farmers that the institute would establish portable carp hatchery for quality fish seed production in the area. He along with other dignitaries distributed floating fish feed to the farmers of 20 villages. Scientist NK Barik coordinated the programme and Principal Scientist Dr P Das proposed vote of thanks.