Bhubaneswar, Aug 17 Union Fisheries Secretary Dr Abhilaksh Likhi has advised the NFDB-NFFBB to develop a few commercially important fish varieties that have demand in Biofloc and RAS systems.
Likhi said this on Thursday while reviewing a meeting at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Kausalyaganga to review the activities carried out by ICAR-CIFA and the NFDB-National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB), Bhubaneswar.
He also reviewed the progress of the PMMSY projects in the state of Odisha.
The Union Fisheries Secretary stressed that CIFA should carry out need-based research for the benefit of aqua farmers, with a special focus on diseases due to which the industry loses huge quantities of fish harvest every year.
Officials from the NFDB-National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) presented their activities and explained in detail the objectives of the brood bank, achievements so far, and current activities taken up.
Likhi said the NFDB-NFFBB has a multiplication centre for breeding and production of breeder seed of GI fish strains (Carps) and cemented nursery facilities for GI Scampi.
He also highlighted the training and capacity building on fish breeding and seed production technology carried out in order to improve the skills of fish farmers.
He visited Penthakata, a coastal village in Puri District of Odisha, to understand the grass-roots problems faced by the fishermen of the coastal area and to formulate long-term plans for them.
At Penthakata, Dr Likhi interacted with the Primary Fishermen Co-operative Society members (PFCS), Fisher folk, and fisher women and learned their socio-economic status.
The Fishermen of Penthakata demanded the construction of a fish landing centre or jetty, a hygienic dry fish market, and activities related to the towel fare of fishermen.
He advised the Director of Fisheries, Odisha, to look into the demand of fishermen and to extend Government assistance under Central and State Schemes.
He also interacted with fish. Farmers in Puri District benefitted from the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampad Yojana (PMMSY).
Dr Likhi, while reviewing the activities of CIFA and NFFFBB, also interacted with the Exporters, Progressive farmers, Women self-help group (WSHG) members, and fish farmer Producer organisation (FFPO) members in order to know the priorities of the sector and their aspirations from the Government and research Institutions.
The Secretary urged both CIFA and NFFBB to undertake activities for mass awareness among farmers through intensive campaigns with the involvement of all stakeholders in this sector.
He wanted the developed technology and Best management practises (BMPs) to reach the farmers at the earliest possible time so that they could take advantage of the schemes and new technology.