ICAR-CIFRI Ranches 2.5 Lakh Indian Major Carps in West Bengal

Under the Namami Gange programme, ICAR - Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) at Barrackpore organised a National River Ranching Programme 2023 at Barendrapara Ghat at Bally in Howrah, West Bengal adjoining to Holy Belur Math on 6^th May 2023.

With the continuation of the National Stream Farming System which was started on the 5th of April 2023 from Nabadwip town in West Bengal. The program was carried out at several stretches spanning 3 different states.

More than 9 lakhs fish fingerlings were farmed to date, from April to May 2023 with the aim of 22 lakhs. In the current river ranching programme, CIFRI liberated 2.5 lakhs of advanced Indian Major Carps fingerlings which were > 150mm and were liberated by Swami Rashbehari Maharaj Ji of Belur Math, Ramakrishna Mission and Ramakrishna Math and Dr Basanta Kumar Das, Director of CIFRI.

In addition to this, Swami Ji underlined the significance of river Ganga in our day-to-day lives and suggested that anglers should not litter plastics and other anthropological wastes in the holy river Ganga.

Also, he related Mother Ganga with the ancient Puranas and requested that the local anglers should avoid haphazard fishing.

Additionally, the Sub-Inspector of the Bally police station also participated in the programme actively.

Furthermore, covering the 52 local fisheries and fisherwomen along with local residents towards sustainable fisheries, Hilsa and Dolphin preservation, a massive awareness campaign was carried out.