Strengthening Inland Fisheries: Shri George Kurien,s visit to ICAR-CIFRI
20th January, 2025
Shri George Kurian, the Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying visited the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) on 21 January, 2025 to review ongoing research and advancements in the fisheries sector.
As part of his visit, Shri Kurian participated in the Ganga River Ranching program by releasing 0.58 lakh advanced fingerlings of Indian Major Carp (viz. Gibelion catla, Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala) including Bata (Labeo bata) into the holy Ganges. Shri George Kurien's participation in the river ranching program at Gandhi Ghat, Barrackpore, underscores the Government's dedication to preserving the ecological balance of our sacred rivers. The successful release of fish fingerlings marks a significant step towards reviving the Ganga's aquatic biodiversity and promoting sustainable fisheries practices. His praise for CIFRI's initiative underscores the institute's pivotal role in promoting sustainable fisheries and enhancing the livelihoods of fisher communities.
Following this, Shri Kurian visited the state-of-the-art laboratories and facilities at ICAR-CIFRI campus. During his visit, he gained an insight into the institute's cutting-edge research and witnessed demonstration of Drone Technology in Fisheries Application at ICAR-CIFRI. During the drone demonstration, Hon'ble Minister actively interacted with the fish farmers, local fishers and researchers. Listening to their experiences, success stories and the challenges they face in their daily operations, he urged ICAR-CIFRI and other stakeholders to take key steps for making this drone-based applications reach to the fish farmers and ensure holistic access.
A highlight of the visit was thoughtful interactions with 125 fisherwomen of Sunderbans particularly from the Basanti Block of the South 24 Parganas of West Bengal. He discussed about the natural challenges related to calamities they face and the support provided by the government to enhance their livelihoods. He also emphasized adopting sustainable practices and leveraging new technologies to boost productivity and income. Additionally, the Hon’ble Minister had an interaction with trainee officials from the Department of Fisheries, Government of Odisha, emphasizing skill development and knowledge exchange for the sector’s holistic growth.
During his interaction with fishers and fish farmers, Shri Kurian highlighted the remarkable increase in India's fish production over the past decade, from 95.79 lakh tons to 175.45 lakh tons. He also spoke about the government's efforts to improve the sector through various schemes like PMMSY in recent years. This exponential growth is a testament to the resilience and dedication of our fishers and fish farmers.
Shri Kurian acknowledged the significant contributions of ICAR-CIFRI in developing technologies such as HDPE-pen culture, Cage culture which have transformed traditional