CIFRI Awards
National Fish Farmers’ Day, 2022 cum National campaign on “Emerging Aquaculture Systems and Practices” celebrated by ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati at Charan beel, Assam “National Fish Farmers’ Day, 2022” cum National campaign on “Emerging Aquaculture Systems and Practices” was celebrated by ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Centre, Guwahati at Charan beel, Baksa district, Assam on 10 July, 2022.
The programme was organized under the overall guidance of Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; and Dr. B. K. Bhattacharjya, Head (Acting), ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati. Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Zone-VI, Guwahati acted as the chief guest of the programme. Dr. A.K. Yadav, Dr. Pronob Das, Dr. S.C.S. Das, Senior Scientists; Dr. S. Borah, Scientist and Mr. A. Kakati, STA acted as resource persons in the programme. The programme was attended by more than 60 tribal fishers/ farmers (including 15 women) of the locality under the Dhulabari Charanpar Janajati Unnayan Samity, Deulkuchi led by Mr. Naren Basumatary (President) and Mr. Jadu Swargiary (Secretary). 
Dr. Pronob Das welcomed the guests and participants for the programme. He explained the purpose of the day-long programme. He also briefed about the role of ICAR-CIFRI for development of openwater fisheries in Northeast region. Mr. Amulya Kakati, STA spoke about history and significance of National Fish Farmers’ Day. Dr. Simanku Borah briefly explained about the interventions of ICAR-CIFRI in Charan beel. Mr. Jadu Swargiary (Secretary) thanked ICAR-CIFRI for their support in the form scientific and technical guidance, training to the fishers and for providing input materials (fish seed, CIFRI CAGEGROW feed, CIFRI HDPE pen, etc.) for supplementary stocking and pen culture in the beel.
He also informed the gathering about enhancement of fish production of Charan beel and fishers’ income post ICAR-CIFRI interventions. Dr. S. C.S. Das briefly explained about the advancement of aquaculture technologies. Dr. Rajesh Kumar congratulated ICAR-CIFRI for organizing such a field programme for the tribal fish farmers. He expressed his happiness that fish production and income of the local fishers’ increased due to interventions of ICAR-CIFRI. He urged the fishers to adopt integrated approach in aquaculture for overall development. He promised to provide further support from ICAR-ATARI through KVK, Baksa district. 
Dr. B. K. Bhattacharjya urged the local fishers to continue fish stock enhancement and pen culture on their own beyond the project period. He promised to provide technical support to local beel community. He also briefed about different technologies available for openwater fisheries and aquaculture sector of Assam with emphasis on emerging aquaculture practices. The programme ended with formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. A. K. Yadav.
During the interactive session, resource persons from the Institute interacted with the participants on different aspects of pen culture, cage culture, culture-based fisheries, feed and feeding management, fish health management and economics.
