CIFRI Awards
ICAR-CIFRI celebrated ‘World Soil Day-2023’ on the United Nations declared theme “Soil and Water: A Source of Life” on 5th December at its Headquarter in both offline and online mode connecting all its regional centres. A total of 150 participants including scientists, students, research scholars, fishers (total of 30 nos. including 14 nos. of women fishers) participated in the programme. Dr. Niharendu Saha, Professor, Department of Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal, an eminent soil scientist of international repute was the Chief Guest on the occasion. In his inaugural speech, Dr. B.K Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI welcomed the audience and emphasized the importance of soil, water, their interrelationa and also the balanced nutrition in fish production. He also elaborated ICAR-CIFRI’s efforts in disseminating the message among the fishers and explained how ignorance or carelessness can pollute the ecosystem of fish production. Dr. Das also availed the occasion to inform the gathering about various technologies and products developed by the institute useful for enhancing income of inland open water fishermen. In his speech, the chief guest, Dr. Saha enlightened the audience about the importance of Soil in agriculture in general and fisheries in particular and the need of celebrating Soil Day. He warned with data and statistics about the loss of top soil, thus putting threat on agricultural production, degradation and pollution causing deterioration of the ecosystem inviting imminent, inevitable and irreversible consequences to the nature. He also mentioned measures to be adopted to avoid such consequences. On this occasion ICAR-CIFRI distributed Water and Soil Health Cards to fishermen of 20 major floodplain wetlands of lower Gangetic region (West Bengal) mentioning recommendations to be followed, thus in total about 200 fishermen were benefitted. The farmers expressed their happiness to be the part of this occasion and shared their experiences with the scientific community. They also appreciated ICAR-CIFRI’s assistance and contributions in this regards.
