Dr. B.K. Bhattacharjya, Head, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati and Syed Mufti Alam, In-charge, District Project Manager, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, SSM district. Resource persons for the training programme were Dr. Dipesh Debnath, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati; Dr. S.C.S. Das, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati; Mr. Palash Paul, Ornamental Fish Entrepreneur, Bilashipara, Dhubri; Mr. Ibrahim Ali Khan, Sub-divisional Fishery Development Officer (SDFDO), SSM and Mr. Abdus Salam, FDO, SSM district. SHG fisherwomen were taught about prospects of ornamental fisheries in South Salmara Mankachar, varieties of fishes having ornamental values (both exotic and indigenous ones), breeding and culture of common ornamental fishes, handling, packaging and transportation of fishes, their diseases and management. They were also explained about setting up of aquarium tanks and different accessories required for fish keeping. Preparation of low-cost fish feed was demonstrated in the field.
Detailed discussion and planning was done by the scientists of ICAR-CIFRI, FDO, SDFDO, DPM-ASRLM with Deputy Commissioner and SHG Members regarding possibilities of convergence of various activities for overall fisheries development in the SSM district. The DC, SSM district took utmost interest in fisheries-related activities including promotion of ornamental fisheries in the district with a goal to enhance fishers income and improve livelihood in the backward border areas of Assam and Bangladesh. The participants of the training were overwhelmed to learn scientific aspects of ornamental fisheries and promised to practice and transfer their knowledge and skills learned during the training to the fellow SHG members for overall fisheries development in the district.