The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai in collaboration with the Society of Coastal Aquaculture and Fisheries (SCAFi) and Navsari Agricultural University (NAU), Gujarat organized the “Brackishwater Aquaculture Farmers’ Conclave - 2020 (BAFAC-2020)” at Surat, Gujarat from 19th to 20th February, 2020.
The Chief Guest, Anup Kumar, I.A.S., Secretary, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Agricultural Marketing, Government of Maharashtra lauded the ICAR-CIBA’s efforts to organize the Farmer’s Conclave in the West Coast.
In his address, N.F. Patel, Department of Fisheries, Government of Gujarat recalled the decision of the Gujarat Fisheries Minister for allocating 7.5 ha of farm land at Matwad, Navsari to the NGRC of ICAR-CIBA to conduct the research and trials for the development of technologies suitable for the West Coast.
Dr. Joykrushna Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR highlighted the brackishwater aquaculture’s potential in the country and benefits the farmers can reap in on a sustainable mode. He outlined the sector’s remarkable growth, where the farmers’ income in brackishwater sector has been multiplied over 3 times since 2010. Dr. Jena also stressed on the need of a sustainable approach to keep the growth trajectory.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA and President, SCAFi & Convener, BAFAC-2020 articulated the significance of BAFAC-2020 and its main purpose. He also outlined the development of brackishwater aquaculture sector with special reference to the shrimp farming and the way forward for its sustainability. Dr. Vijayan also assured the stakeholders about the extending of the technological and capacity building support on “partnership mode” by the Institute to the programmes initiated on the west coast by the respective state governments for developing the brackishwater aquaculture.
The various farmer-friendly publications by ICAR-CIBA in the vernacular languages were released during the occasion.
Around 70 farmers of the region were distributed the Soil and Water Health Cards based on respective farm samples. Dr. Jena also handed-over a cheque for Rs. 5,00,000; an income generated by the Om Sai Women Self Help Group, Matwad, Navsari, Gujarat by taking up the Nursery rearing of fin fishes with the facilitation of Navsari Gujarat Research Center of ICAR-CIBA.
About 900 brackishwater farmers representing all the coastal states covering both East and West coasts of India from West Bengal to Gujarat and Inland states like Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan attended the programme.
