CIFRI Awards
ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) in collaboration with Sundarban Dreams hosted an Interface Meet for 24 Farmers Producers Organizations from 8 districts (Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad, Birbhum, Burdwan, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Darjeeling), 20 hill Fishers from Darjeeling of West Bengal and 30 farmers from Bihar on 26th February, 2022 at ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore. A total of 125 stake holders participated in this interface meeting. The key discussions were made for their livelihoods, governance pattern and net economic returns from the agricultural practices including fisheries. Senior officers from Panchayat Raj Department, Sunder Tiger reserves and Deputy General Manager were the key officers participated physically to build up a technological, social and economical network benefitting these FPOs and Farming community. Besides Dr. M. V. Rao, Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of West Bengal addressed the gathering through online mode (virtually).
The occasion was graced by Shri Santhosha Gubbi, IFS, Additional Secretary, Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Shri S Jones Justin, Deputy Field Director, Sundarban Tiger Reserve, Shri S. Niyogi, DGM, West Bengal State Corporative Bank Limited, Shri Radhakrishna Mondal, Asst. Director, Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of West Bengal. The programme was initiated by Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, who highlighted the importance of sustainable development to achieve self-reliance by the farmers and also informed the contribution of ICAR-CIFRI in ensuring the development of the people of Sunderban. He mentioned about the distribution of inputs like stocking of fish fingerlings, fish feed, lime and medicine to more than 2500 marginal farmers of Sunderban along with providing relief after the cyclonic storms like Amphan, Yaas etc.. He also sensitized the general populace on the available CIFRI technologies and government schemes through various awareness, training and interaction programmes. Shri Niyogi, in his lecture focused on the benefits of entrepreneurship among small farmers in achieving sustainable growth and also highlighted about the key role played by the Banks and other formal money lending organizations like SHGs and cooperatives in building the necessary infrastructure and ways to overcome the initial hurdles like security deposits etc. while sanctioning a loan. Shri J. Jones explained the benefits of synergistic interaction between the Government and the farmers in achieving desired development. Guest of Honor, Shri Gubbi highlighted the importance of group formation and distribution of defined roles among the members for simplification of the work and by sharing of work load, division of the required capital through organizations like Farmers Producers’ companies and also shared the success stories from such companies who have achieved great success due to their collective effort. He mentioned about the procedures of certification for ease of conducting business and also described the importance of organic farming in keeping up with the current trends of preference in organic products and thus generating higher turnover than traditional farming practices. On this occasion eleven farmers from various parts of the West Bengal were felicitated with Mementos, Certificates and Sashes by Director (ICAR-CIFRI) and Honorable Guests for their outstanding contribution in agriculture and allied sectors.
Chief Guest of the programme Dr. M. V. Rao, highlighted on the positive impact of collective efforts by the small farmers through FPOs and appreciated the effort by ICAR-CIFRI and Sunderban Dreams in forming FPOs in Sunderban area and also emphasized on the cooperation and cohesiveness for the success of FPOs. Dr. Das felicitated the Guests of the function as a token of love and respect. Next in the line of programmes was an interaction session with the farmers so that they could share their experience with everybody and also could get advice in case of any queries. Shrimati Monika Biswas, Shri Tapan Kumar Bayen and other awardees farmers shared their valuable experience and gaining exposure from collaboration with various ICAR institutes.
Women members are more participating in this type of FPO groups indicating involvement in building of these FPOs for societal development and net economic return as Sunderban Biosphere is only Fisheries dependent livelihood and involvement of senior forest officers is an amalgamated programme for their alternate livelihood in the Sunderban Biospehere.
Dr. A. K. Das, Dr. A. Roy, Dr. P. K. Parida interacted with Farmers in the interaction section along with Director, ICAR-CIFRI to provide solution to the queries of the farmers.
Updated on 28/02/2022
