The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture has begun the National Consultative Meet on a roadmap for dissemination of genetically improved varieties of fish and shellfish at its Kausalyaganga campus.
The meet was organised in collaboration with the Association of Aquaculturists and will continue for next two days. It aims at taking stock of the current status of on-going genetic improvement programmes, sharing of experiences by research groups working on this and drawing a roadmap for dissemination of improved strains within and outside India.
Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science) ICAR, New Delhi Dr JK Jena inaugurated the consultation. Improved Rohu (trademarked as Jayanti), CIFA GI Scampi and GI Catla are developed by ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar with distinct yield advantage to the tune of 60, 30 and 30 per cent respectively.
CIFA has also developed AhR-Jayanti for Aeromonas hydrophila resistance in rohu. Genetic improvement work is underway at CIFE, Mumbai and CIBA, Chennai for Magur and shrimp respectively, informed Dr Jena. These improved strains need wide scale dissemination so that farmers and entrepreneurs are benefitted.
Joint Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, Sagar Mehra also graced the inaugural session and underscored the mass scale availability of the improved varieties of fish and shellfish.
Both horizontal and vertical expansion of aquaculture production is required to realise the potentials of blue revolution. Under the flagship scheme, Prime Minister Matsya Sampada Yojana, quality fish seed production and distribution is prioritized, said Mehra.
Earlier, Director, ICAR-CIFA Dr PK Sahoo sought inputs from the experts in designing a robust dissemination strategy for the improved varieties for increasing aquaculture production and productivity.
The heads of ICAR fisheries research institutes, representatives from NFDB, World Fish, Rajiv Gandhi Centre of Aquaculture and Dr MV Gupta and World Food Prize laureate attended the programme. Two booklets were released on this occasion.