On the occasion of National Fish Farmers’ Day, various organisations tasked with promoting aquaculture observed the occasion in Meghalaya today.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) Ri-Bhoi commemorated the significant contribution of fish farmers towards ensuring food and nutritional security. The programme witnessed the participation of 20 progressive farmers from across the district where there is a growing interest in fisheries as a livelihood avenue.
The event was coordinated by Bankitkupar Mukhim, Subject Matter Specialist (Fisheries). He emphasised the importance of scientific fish farming practices and acknowledged the traditional knowledge and commitment of local fish farmers in preserving aquatic biodiversity. Principal Scientist M Islam highlighted advances in freshwater aquaculture, with special emphasis on eco-friendly feed management and the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable fish production.
As part of the programme, floating fish feed was distributed to the attending farmers to support their ongoing aquaculture efforts.
Similarly, the KVK South Garo Hills also celebrated the day under the theme ‘Healthy Fish for a Healthy Nation’. The programme was led by Athokpam Haribhushan, Principal Scientist and Head of KVK South Garo Hills.
A total of 30 fish farmers from 10 different villages across the district participated in the event. To encourage the adoption of scientific fish farming, the KVK distributed pelleted fish feed to the attending farmers. A technical session was also held as part of the day’s activities. Thongam Monika Devi, Subject Matter Specialist (Fisheries), delivered a lecture on ‘Sustainable Aquaculture and Fish Feeding Management’, highlighting best practices for improving productivity and maintaining ecological balance.
ICAR Umiam, meanwhile, concluded a three-day training programme on fish breeding and hatchery management today. Twenty-five farmers from Ri-Bhoi participated in the initiative.
The training addressed the unique geographical and climatic conditions of the region, offering scientifically-backed solutions for enhancing rural income through aquaculture, especially regarding carp breeding, specialised techniques for different species, etc from a number of experts in the field, such as C Debnath, Tasso Tayung, S Gojendro Singh, Alakesh Das and P Mahanta.
The event concluded with the distribution of fish seeds and certificates, empowering the 25 trainees to implement scientific fish farming practices in their communities.
The KVK West Garo Hills also commemorated the day in recognition of the pioneering contribution of Hiralal Chaudhuri and Alikunhi in the successful induced breeding of Indian Major Carps. The event recognised their groundbreaking work that laid the foundation for modern aquaculture practices in India.
The programme witnessed the participation of 30 fish farmers from the region who gathered to gain insights into scientific and sustainable fish farming techniques.
Puja Chakraborty, Subject Matter Specialist (Aquaculture), elaborated on crucial pre-stocking and post-stocking pond management techniques, water quality maintenance and feed management to ensure better survival and growth of fish. To promote integrated farming systems, Ramawater Yadav, SMS (Vegetable Science), spoke about the benefits of integrating fisheries with horticultural crops, highlighting how such practices can lead to enhanced resource use efficiency and profitability for smallholder farmers.
Priyanka Saha, SMS (Agronomy), further enriched the session by explaining the concept of agro-waste management and circular resource management. She explained how agro-waste can be effectively utilised to fertilise fish ponds, thereby reducing input costs and promoting sustainability.
