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Pen Culture Adoption in Wetlands: A PPP Driven SCSP Initiative for Livelihood and Productivity Enhancement

11^th December, 2025
Sindrani wetland, North 24 Parganas,WB

ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, adopted the Sindrani wetland located along the Indo–Bangladesh border in West Bengal under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) Programme in 2020. Since then, a series of scientific interventions most notably pen culture technology has led to a two-fold increase in the wetland’s fish productivity.

Under the leadership and guidance of Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, several awareness programmes, training sessions, and stakeholder meetings were organised to build the capacity of the Sindrani Fisheries Cooperative Society (FCS). As part of the initiative, the cooperative received four sets of 0.1 ha pens and six coracles for in-situ raising of fish seed in the beel.
After three years of continuous technical support, the Sindrani FCS formally adopted pen culture technology for fish seed raising in PPP (Public-Private -Partnership) mode on 11 December 2025. A total of 580 kg of Indian Major Carp (IMC) and silver carp seed were stocked by the society in two 0.1 ha pens. Around 17,000 fish seeds of Catla:rohu:mrigal:silver carp in the ratio of 1:2:1:1 respectively were stocked in each pen. CIFRI scientists provided guidance in water quality monitoring, pen site selection, and supplied the institute’s floating feed, to support the activity.

The positive impact of pen culture on wetland productivity has encouraged neighbouring cooperatives including Chamta FCS and Kholsi FCS to initiate similar interventions in PPP mode. The sustained efforts of the SCSP team have played a pivotal role in enhancing the awareness and adoption of in-situ fish seed rearing strategies among wetland fishers.
Through these collaborative efforts, ICAR-CIFRI has successfully demonstrated how scientific management and community participation can significantly boost fish production and livelihood opportunities in wetland ecosystems