New technologies in freshwater aquaculture

The Statesman, Feb 10, 2009
Statesman News Service

BHUBANESWAR, Feb. 9: The city-based central institute of freshwater aquaculture (Cifa), in association with Orissa tribal empowerment and livelihoods programme (Otelp), Kandhamal and sahabhagi vikash aviyan (SVA), Kalahandi organised a series of five field days on freshwater aquaculture here recently.
A total of 130 farmers covering 80 per cent ST and SC population from tribal dominated Kandhamal and Kalahandi districts participated in the programmes. Majority of the participants, about 58 per cent were women, Cifa sources said.
Speaking on the occasion, institute director Dr AE Eknath said that the farmers could get high value nutrition by resorting to aquaculture. “It is a tool to enhance income, employment and livelihood leading to alleviation of poverty. By combining agriculture with aquaculture farmers can get diversified products and decrease the risk of investment,” he said.
The aim of the programme was to expose the tribal farmers and farmwomen to new technologies in freshwater aquaculture and address their queries through interactions, he said.
The Cifa scientists demonstrated in participatory mode various aquaculture technologies like pond preparation, analysis of pond water and sediment, nursery management, disease control, quality seed production, hatchery management, integrated fish farming, culture of carps, prawn, magur, murrels, koi and ornamental fishes, cage culture and feeding methods.
The farmers were motivated to adopt the technologies thought by the institute to gain additional income for their livelihood. The farmers opined that the exposure visits were of great help to them since it enhanced their level of knowledge and inspired them to undertake aquaculture activities on a scientific basis.
Senior Cifa scientists Mr GS Saha, Mr Radheyshyam, Mr HK De, Mr Kuldeep Kumar, Mr DN Chattopadhyay, Mr BK Das, and technical officers Mr B Mishra, Ms Lekha Safui, Mr UL Mohanty and Mr Sukanti Behera coordinated the programmes.