TEZU, Feb 12: With a view to increase the income of socially backward farmers by at least two-fold through improving their livelihood standards and ultimately enhancing the total fish production of the State, a three-year programme comprising demonstration trials at farmers’ ponds, along with capacity-building on diversified carp aquaculture with the introduction of high-value and fast-growing compatible species were undertaken.
As part of the initial activity of empowering fish farmers by imparting practical knowledge and skills, a three-day skill development training programme on ‘Enhancement of Productivity & Return through Species Diversification in Aquaculture’ commenced at the Sunpura community hall in Lohit district on Tuesday.
The event is held under the aegis of the Kolkata Centre of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), Mumbai in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, GoAP, Lohit district.
Inaugurating the programme, ZPM Sunpura Gulapso Billai mentioned the importance of adoption of scientific fish farming to increase productivity and double the farmers’ income. He motivated the farmers to make full use of this initiative of ICAR-CIFE to bring more area under modern fish culture method and increase the fish production of Lohit district to become ‘Atmanirbhar’ for meeting up the increasing fish demand.
He also appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CIFE and State Dept of Fisheries for undertaking this activity for the benefit of farmers.
Lohit District Fisheries Development Officer Kenbom Chisi highlighted the importance of advanced aquaculture methods to augment fish production and appreciated the initiative of ICAR-CIFE for taking up this demonstration programme at a far eastern district of Arunachal Pradesh, which, he said, would “surely” benefit the farming community.
He urged the participants to make full use of the knowledge and skill developed through this programme and the critical input like soil and water test kits for management of their culture ponds.
Dr Gouranga Biswas, Principal Scientist and Coordinator, ICAR-CIFE, Kolkata Centre, delivered various theory and hands-on classes on composite fish culture, species diversification, analysis of soil and water quality parameters, and fish health and disease management.
He also suggested use of high-value fish species in aquaculture for increasing return from existing farming systems.
A total of 25 tribal fish farmers, including four females, actively participated and received critical inputs for fish farming, such as lime and CIFE developed water testing kits and study materials from the organizers. (DIPRO)