Doubling Fishers’ Income: A Sustainable Development Approach by CIFRI

Swami Shivapurnanada Ji Maharaj, Asst. Administrative Head of RKMVRI & Vice Chairman, Sashyshyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Arpunch, Sonarpur, WB was the Chief Guest & Prof. Ashis Kumar Panigrahi, Pro- Vice Chancellor of Burdwan University was the Guest of Honour. About 80 fish farmers from different corners of West Bengal participated in this auspicious program. 

One FCS, three progressive fish farmers including two women and one Enterpreneur were felicitated with prestigious awards viz Chamta FCS, N24PGS, Kanai Hembram, Ramcharkar, Sagar Island, Babli Mondal, Kultoli, Sundarbans, Sukhodi Mardi, Asadullapur (Bishnubati), Birbhum & Dipankar Mazumdar, Ashoknagar, 24 Parganas for their outstanding contribution in the field of Fisheries in wetland, ornamental fish culture & fisheries as well as pond system in Sagariska which devastated by Amfan last year.

Subject Matter Specialists (SMSF) in Fisheries of different KVKs functioning in WB actively participated in this program. They discussed related fisheries pertinent to the day-to-day activities of the fish farmers across WB. Management of Brooders, including marketing, has been emphasized by most of the SMSF for sustainable production in fisheries & aquaculture. Availability of good quality seeds of Indian Majir Carps Rohu, Catla & Mrigal to be ensured in remote parts of Sundarbans, they proclaimed and requested as to securing the livelihood of farmers of those places.

Dr. Panigrahi, in his address, invoked the farmers to become closer to and to remain intricately associated with the ICAR Fisheries Research Institute as being attached to CIFRI for their knowledge Strengthening & capacity building through sound training programs both inhouse & onfield conducted by CIFRI & others. While addressing the fish farmers, including progressive ones, Dr. B K Das, Director, CIFRI urged the farmers to update their knowledge from time to time through several training programs regularly conducted & dedicated to fishers folk towards upgrading their life & livelihood, targeting doubling farmers income, including nutritional security.

Diversification of fish species demand has been in place. Farmers should derive benefits by enculturation these fish species, including Pengba, as this species grows well in WB and adjacent areas. He opined that women should be empowered with updating knowledge in culturing ornamental fish species in their homestead backyards. Models have been developed for enhancing fisheries in floodplain wetlands. The Grasscarp model has been implemented in Beladanga beel, near Bongaon ensuing huge income for FCS members through the harvesting of Fish - Dr. Das proclaimed.

Swami Shivapurnananda Maharaj, in his presidential remarks, imbibed the farmers to come forward and be in touch with the CIFRI gaining scientific knowledge in pisciculture & fisheries to earn more livelihood for their family. Swamiji urged one should get regular training on need-based technologies to be implemented in individual farms, ponds, or backyard farms.

The in-house program was immediately followed by river Ranching activities in the nearby Hooghly River under Ganga River system releasing ganga-bred fingerlings of Catla, Rohu, Mrigal more than one lakh. The fingerlings were released very auspiciously to river Hooghly by Swamiji, Prof Panigrahi & Dr. Das besides all the SMSF participated in the ranching program.