CIFRI Awards
To commemorate the monumental occasion the 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence (Bharat Ki Azadi Ki Amrut Mahotsav), National Campaign on Ecosystem based management for sustainable fisheries all over the India by Fisheries science Division, ICAR in collaboration with all eight fisheries institutes viz CIFRI, CMFRI, NBFGR, DCFR, CIFE, CIFA, CIBA and CIFT led by ICAR CIFRI was launched on the auspicious day of National Fish Farmers Day 10 July 2021. On this important occasion, ICAR-CIFRI organised a series of programmes and campaigns for Ecosystem based management for sustainable fisheries.
The inaugural webinar on Inland Open water fisheries Management initiated with floral tribute to Prof. Hira Lal Choudhury, the author of induced breeding by Dr. B. K. Das, Director ICAR-CIFRI. First success of induced breeding of fish was achieved by the luminary scientist Dr. Hira Lal Choudhury and Dr. Alikhuni on July 10, 1957. To commemorate the first success of induced breeding, Government of India has declared 10th July to be celebrated as National Fish Farmers Day.
Dr. B. K.Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI in his welcome Address, welcomed chief guest and all the dignitaries and participants. He briefed about the National campaign and how it will help in empowering the farmers, fishermen and women, students, seed producers, input dealers, Farmers Producer Organizations, Farmer Producer Companys, Self Help Groups, Cooperatives, Farmer Groups and Entrepreneurs etc.
Dr. J. K. Jena, DDG (FS), ICAR in his Chief Guest address said that National Fish Farmers Day marks the invention of induced breeding technology that revolutionised aquaculture production in the country. Over the years researchers had added knowledge to breeding technology and refinement carried out by farmers in field. He also dwelt upon the contributions made by the scientist community in developing different fish breeds and increasing the production in the country in the last five decades. Fish production has increased substantially and now the time has come to linking market to production. The new challenge is to increase the production to targeted 25 million tonnes. He stressed that now a days people are more health conscious, hence apart from quantity, quality of the produce should also be maintained.
Dr. M. V. Gupta, World Food Laureate and former ADG, World Fish in his address as Guest of honour said that till 1980s 90% of the fish seed are collected from rivers, this induced breeding technique has enhanced the seed production through hatcheries and at present most of the fish seeds are produced in hatcheries. Fisheries sector has provided food and nutritional security to the nation.
Dr. Dilip Kumar, Former Director & Vice Chancellor, ICAR-CIFE in his address emphasises that one research result induced breeding resulted in benefitting crores of fisherman by enhancing their production and livelihood.
Dr. V. V. Sugunan, Foremer ADG (Inland Fisheries), ICAR said that due to increase in fish seed production, India has substantially increased the inland fish production. With the adoption of culture based fisheries management the reservoir and wetland fish production in the country is going to be increased only. Dr. N. Sarangi, Former Director, ICAR-CIFA, Dr. A. Gopalakrishnan, Director, ICAR-CMFRI, Dr. C. N. Ravishankar, Director, ICAR-CIFT, Dr. Padama Kumar, RAC Chairman, ICAR-CIFRI and other guest also spoke on this occasion.
Dr. A. K. Das proposed the vote of thanks. More than 5000 fishers, students, entreprenuers attended this programme.
Earlier today under the National campaign a large numbers of programmes and activities carried out. ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati centre and ICAR-ATARI organized Webinar on 'Ecosystem- based fisheries management for fisheries and aquaculture of NER' has been by where more than 300 people attended. ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati in collaboration with AFDC organised webinar on 'Management of beel eco-systems of Assam for sustainable fisheries' in Assamees language. An online awareness workshop was organized on Reservoir Fisheries Management for Sustainable Development at Manchanabele reservoir, Ramanagara district, Karnatakaon 10 July 2021 from 9 to 11 a.m. Fisheries officials from various districts of Karnataka along with about 200 fish farmers participated in the programme through online mode.
A large numbers of awareness programs were also oraganised in the state of West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and UP. Awareness programme on Sustainable Fisheries for Livelihood Enhancement in Reservoirs was organised by Kochi Regional Station of ICAR – CIFRI at Vazhani Reservior at Thrissur district in Kerala. An awareness programme was held at Mahi river by ICAR – CIFRI Vadodara centre, where 100 fishers participated. River ranching programme at River Ganga was organised at Daspara ghat, Barrackpore and Sangam, Prayagraj where 40,000 and 5000 fingerlings have been released to river Ganga. 500 fishes were tagged and released to see the fish behaviour and growth.
