Bhubaneswar: ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar is the premier national institute under the administrative control of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi. Under the Tribal Sub Plan Scheme of Government of India, the institute is conducting the National Workshop on “Aquaculture as a Livelihood Option for Tribal Farmers of India” at its Kausalyaganga campus during 18-19 February, 2019. The inaugural function was held in the Auditorium of ICAR-CIFA at 11.30 AM on 18 February 2019.
As Chief Guest of the Inaugural Function, His Excellency the Governor of Odisha, Prof. Ganeshi Lal inaugurated the National Workshop and Exhibition of ICAR Institutes at Kausalyaganga. The Governor remembered the sacrifice and contribution of Tribal community for building the Nation. He stressed that an empowered and prosperous India will not be reality unless the tribes and other down trodden people are brought to the main stream of our society.
Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries & Animal Science), Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi highlighted the role of ICAR for development of strategies, schemes and policies for development of agriculture including aquaculture for livelihood improvement and nutritional security of tribal population of the country. He thanked the institute for contributions to aquaculture development in tribal areas of India since 1992. He encouraged the tribal farmers to take up fish culture in their areas as a profitable venture and for availability of cheap animal protein to them in their diet and for economic returns.
Dr. (Mrs.) Bindu R. Pillai, Director, ICAR-CIFA welcomed His Excellency the Governor of Odisha and other dignitaries, delegates, farmers, press and media to the institute and function. She informed that the institute and all are honoured by the visit of His Excellency to the institute after a gap of twelve years. She briefed about the role of ICAR-CIFA for freshwater aquaculture development in different regions of the country.
Dr. B.C. Mohapatra, Principal Scientist and Chairman, Tribal Sub Plan Programme of ICAR-CIFA highlighted the contributions of the institute for last three decades for quality seed production, fish culture development and training to tribal farmers. The TSP was undertaken by the institute in Gujarat, Kerala, Telengana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and all eight north-eastern states of India.
Shri P.K. Senapati, IAS, Director, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Odisha appreciated the role of ICAR-CIFA in expansion of freshwater aquaculture technologies to the selected stake holders around the country. He urged to have the linkage among the State Fisheries and ICAR-CIFA for information sharing in freshwater aquaculture and more collaboration in future.
Two publications namely, Book on “Aquaculture as a tool for empowering SC/ST farmers of India: three decades of ICAR-CIFA’s contribution” and E-publication “Souvenir and Extended Abstracts” were released by His Excellency the Governor of Odisha.
Around 200 participants from 15 states of the country (Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Maharashtra, Assam, Odisha, Manipur, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) participated in the National workshop.
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