The ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture(CIFA) observed the 17th National Fish Farmers’ Day at its Kausalyaganga campus here on Monday.
The day is commemorated in remembrance of scientists Dr KH Alikunhi and Dr Hl Chaudhury who had invented induced breeding technology on this day way back in 1957.
Addressing the gathering, ICAR-CIFA Director (Acting) Dr JK Sundaray said invention is hailed as a landmark achievement in the history of fishery in India and abroad. During the last three decades of devoted research, the institute has contributed significantly toward development for 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, improved Rohu Jayanti, CIFABROOD, hybridization detection kit and other useful technologies for the farmers.
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University, Belur, WB VC Swami Atmapriyananda was the chief guest on this occasion. Swamiji termed farmers’ profession as a glorious one.
Academic Coordinator, RMVU, Swami Shivapurnananda was guest of honour on this occasion. He highlighted how fisheries can contribute to boost rural livelihood security especially.
U KVN Raju, Chairman, Ananda Group, Bhimavaram, AP laid emphasis on value addition looking at the shifting of consumer behavior. Benefits of eating fish also need to be disseminated to create more demand for fish and fisheries products, Dr Manoj Sharma, Director, Mayank Aquaculture Pvt. ltd., Surat, Gujarat said.
Around 60 fish farmers from Odisha and other parts of the country were present at the event. Of them 13 from different parts of India were felicitated for their contributions to the development of freshwater aquaculture.