Dr. Hiralal Chaudhury and Dr. K.H.Alikunhi accomplished this technological feat on 10 July in 1957. To mark the occasion, the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, a constituent of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (an autonomous body under Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India) celebrated National Fish Farmers’ day on its campus today.
According to Orissadiary, India today is the third largest fish producing country in the world, with a total production of 7.13 million tones fish. The sector also fetches foreign currency worth Rs. 80,000,000,000 informed Dr.A.E.Eknath, Director CIFA. He presented an overview of institute’s technologies pertaining to carps, prawn, ornamental fish, magur and different products developed by it. He laid emphasis on ‘out reach’ activity so that fruits of research are made accessible to farming community.
Mrs. Usha Padhi, IAS, Director, Mission Shakti and chief guest of the function, expressed happiness that women fish farmers are also active in fisheries, reports the news organisation.
She informed that women SHGs are being given priority while leasing out water bodies. Mission Shakti, the nodal agency for social and economic empowerment of women has created a massive Social Capital of 3,80,000 SHGs with over 45,00,000 members. While the traditional enterprises like plate making, candle making, papad making often face the problem of marketing. Fish that is in high demand, face no such problem.
Over 300 persons comprising fish farmers, farmwomen, researchers, students and general public participated in the programme. Farmers were exposed to various facilities of the Institute viz., Fish farm, hatcheries, feed mill, aquarium, Agricultural Technology Information Centre etc. Sets of farm literature in Oriya language were distributed among the farmers.
