CIFRI Awards
Culture based fisheries through pen culture can be beneficially employed to derive maximum gains from wetlands. A programme was organized in Khalsi wetland to sensitize the women regarding integrated wetland management. Khalsi is a 62 ha seasonally open wetland situated in Nadia district of West Bengal. The Khalsi wetland is surrounded by eight villages. The fisheries of the waterbody is managed by a fishery cooperative society which has 363 members of which almost 85 % of belong to backward community. Dr. B.K Das, Director, CIFRI stocked 200 kg fingerlings of IMCs in 0.5 ha the pen , to raise in- situ advanced stockable fingerling under Schedule Caste Subplan. To have a synergistic effect inputs like 30days old Rhode Island Red chicks, high yielding-disease resistant vegetable seeds and mushroom spawn were distributed among eighty women beneficiaries under DBT sponsored project. A multidisciplinary scientific team comprising Fisheries, Veterinary, Agriculture and Social Science under the leadership of Dr. B.K Das are attempting to empower the women of fisherfolk community through ‘Eco-system based-Integrated wetland management’ which will ultimately lead them to self-dependence for livelihood and nutritional security.
‘Eco-system based-Integrated wetland management’ is an approach includes all the components like aquaculture for raising seed and table fish in pens/cages; culture based fisheries through stock enhancement; agri-horticulture; poultry etc. It also promotes ranching of native fishes as well as brush Park for conservation. ICAR-CIFRI is using it as an instrument for empowering the rural women of Khalsi beel by ensuring their livelihood.
