CIFRI Awards
Bongaigaon district, Assam
ICAR-CIFRI successfully carried out Front Line Demonstration of Systomus sarana (Olive barb) in CIFRI HDPE pen enclosure in Tamranga beel, Bongaigaon district, Assam under ICAR-WorldFIsh Collaborative Project.
On the occasion of successful harvest of fishes reared in pens, a Field Day on “Harvest of fishes reared in Pens” and an awareness program on 'Pen culture in beels for livelihood' was organized on 14.10.2025 at Tamranga beel. The programme was organized under the overall guidance of Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; Dr. S. K. Majhi, Head and Dr. B. K. Bhattacharjya, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati. It was coordinated by Dr. Pronob Das, Senior Scientist; Dr. S. Borah, Scientist and Mr. M. Hoque, YP-II, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati. Shri Harun Rashid Mondal, Sub-Divisional Fishery Officer, Abhyapuri, Bongaigaon district, Govt. of Assam graced the Programme. Mr. P. Kalita, Fishery Development Officer of the district also joined the programme. The programme was attended by 60 people including beel lessee, fish farmers, officials, and Scientists.
Dr. P Das welcomed the participants and dignitaries for the day-long programme and explained the purpose of the programme. Dr. B. K. Bhattacharjya brief about the details of the successful pen culture demonstration carried out by the Institute in the beel. He also explained about the role of beel fisheries for livelihood improvement of the local fishers. Dr. B. K. Das addressed the gathering and explained about the on-going activities of ICAR-WorlFish collaborative project in West Bengal and Assam. 
He also brief about the significant activities of the Institute in Northeastern region for development of openwater fisheries. He emphasized on participation of community for sustainable management of beel fisheries including pen culture. He opined that the ICAR-CIFRI will continue to explore for diversification of high value species in pen enclosure in Tamranga beel for enhancing income of the fishers. He also assured the fishers for providing technical and critical input support for improving livelihood of the beel dependent fishers. Mr. Kalita informed about the different fisheries development schemes available fishers/ farmers from Govt. 
He urged fishers to avail insurance scheme available for them. Mr. H. R. Mondal thanked ICAR-CIFRI for successfully demonstrating pen culture of high value fish in the beel. He urged the fishers for large scale adoption of pen culture in the beel. Mr. Uttam Kumar Das, Lessee of Tamranga beel express gratitude to ICAR-CIFRI for providing technical and input support for development of the beel and requested for continuing their support in future. Scientists of ICAR-CIFRI also addressed the queries raised by the participants on different aspects of beel fisheries management. The programme ended with a formal vote of thanks proposed by Dr. S. Borah.
