Fish Farmers' Day observed by ICAR-CIFRI in Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The ICAR – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Guwahati Regional Centre organized an online awareness programme on 'Ecosystem-based management for beel fishers of Assam' on Saturday.

The programme was organized in collaboration with the Assam Fisheries Development Corporation (AFDC) Ltd. to observe the National Fish Farmers' Day, 2021.

Over 558 beel lessees, fishers, fishers' co-operative society members and AFDC's field officials participated in the online programme. Dr D. Debnath, Sr. Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati Regional Centre welcomed the participants and dignitaries.

Dr B. K. Das, Director, ICAR – CIFRI, Barrackpore spoke about the significance of the National Fish Farmers' Day and the efforts made by ICAR–CIFRI, Barrackpore for providing R&D support to the development of beel fisheries of Assam through its Guwahati Regional Centre.

P. K. Hazarika, Project Director & OSD, AFDC Ltd. enumerated the steps taken by the Corporation for maintaining the ecosystems of beels under its control while increasing fish production and income of fishers from these beels under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Fisheries Minister, Chairman of AFDC Ltd. and the Additional Chief Secretary of Assam.

He thanked all of them and also Dr B. K. Das, Director, ICAR–CIFRI; Dr B. K. Bhattacharjya, Head, ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati Regional Centre as well as all the Scientists/ technical and other staff members of the Centre.

Dr B. K. Bhattacharjya, Head, ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati Regional Centre stated that the average fish production from the beels of Assam increased from 173 kg hectare per year in 1996-98 to 254 kg hectare per year in recent years through improving the environmental conditions of the beels in the form of controlling macrophytes, reviving riverine connection, etc.

Average fish production rates have further increased to 454 kg hectare per year in beels practising supplementary stocking of carp fingerlings with technical support from ICAR-CIFRI.

ICAR-CIFRI has recently initiated supplementary stocking programmes in 19 beels of Assam located in 9 districts and pen culture in 5 beels.

ICAR – CIFRI, Guwahati, Regional Centre conducted another online interactive programme on 'Ecosystem-based management for fisheries and aquaculture of NER' in collaboration with the ICAR – Agricultural Technology Research and Application Institute (ICAR-ATARI), Zone-VI, Guwahati on Saturday. A total of 467 fish farmers and scientists representing 90 Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim participated in the online programme.

Also Read: Fishes Died in Dighalipukhuri Due to Lack of Oxygen, Minister Bimal Bora Visited the Pond

Also Watch: