The event was attended by participants including fish farmers, entrepreneurs, government officials, faculties from state agriculture, veterinary and fisheries universities, hatchery owners, students and stakeholders.
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India organised a webinar on ‘Neoteric Techniques and Technologies in Fisheries and Aquaculture’ today under the week-long ‘Kisan Bhagidari Prathmikta Hamari’ campaign from 25th to 30th April 2022. The event was presided over by Jatindra Nath Swain, Secretary, Department of Fisheries (DoF) and attended by more than 350 participants including fishers, farmers, entrepreneurs, officials of Department of Fisheries and fisheries officials of various states and union territories, faculties from state agriculture, veterinary and fisheries universities, scientists, hatchery owners, students and stakeholders from aquaculture industry across the country.
In his inaugural address, Union Secretary Fisheries, Swain highlighted the growth and development of fisheries sector over the recent years and added that there was ample scope and need for expansion and diversification of Indian fisheries and aquaculture with the help of advanced technologies. He further requested the scientists and entrepreneurs to motivate farmers and develop innovative ways for increasing profits, decreasing input cost, species diversification and increasing the production and productivity of fish species and commercialising these techniques.
Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), in his opening remarks, briefly highlighted that Government of India was promoting scientific methods, innovations and infusion of modern technologies by providing financial assistance under various schemes which can benefit fishers and farmers of the country using latest techniques and the need of research and development in focus areas.
During the technical session, Dr. AP Sharma, Former Director, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, (ICAR-CIFRI) made a comprehensive presentation on ‘Technological trends in fisheries and aquaculture’ focusing on the reproductive innovations, productivity trends, molecular technologies, along with commercially viable trends like RAS, biofloc technology, coldwater fisheries, ornamental fisheries, multi-trophic aquaculture, aquatic health management, genetics and biotechnology along with future technologies highlighted the importance of investing in good quality fish feed for ensuring high-quality fish is produced and reared.
Dr. L. Narasimha Murthy, Senior Executive Director, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) gave a presentation on ‘Training & capacity building on new technologies in fisheries and aquaculture’ and highlighted the significance of skill and capacity building of fishers and fish farmers for building a pool of skilled workforce in the aquaculture activities.
After the presentation during the webinar on Neoteric Technologies in Fisheries and Aquaculture, a session sharing the success stories was also held and stories highlighting the success of aquaculture ventures were presented by the Department of Fisheries, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh which served as a motivation for the participants. This was followed by an open discussion forum with the participants, led by Sagar Mehra with Dr. AP Sharma and Dr. L. Narasimha Murthy, focusing on real-time successful techniques being invented and practiced by fish farmers across the country.