ICAR-CIFA launched Aquaculture Technology Park in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: Minister for Fisheries, Agriculture, horticulture and Veterinary, Arunachal Pradesh Shri Tage Taki inaugurated the Aquaculture Technology Park in Papum Pare, Agro Eco, Sonajuli on 7th March 2020. The technology park is an unique initiative of ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, which is aimed to bring in all the viable aquaculture technologies of the institute in a single location for better technology demonstration and knowledge dissemination. This is first of its kind in India.
ICAR-CIFA reach out to the farmers for demonstrating the proven technologies, so that they can produce more fish, increase their income and improve their livelihood. The institute has put enormous effort for the development under privileged communities especially Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people across the country and is working in the North-eastern Hil (NEH) region for the during the last 21 years, made a significant impact in the freshwater aquaculture in different states through the technological innovations. As a part of the NEH development programme, CIFA has initiated the Aquaculture Technology Park in the farm of Shri Tana Nekam Tara, a progressive farmer, Papum Pare Agro Eco from Sonajuli. The integrated farm complex has agriculture, horticulture and livestock crops, ICAR-CIFA has started the aquaculture technology interventions during 2004, Shri Tana ji has slowly adopted CIFA’s technologies over the years. At present the farm has facilities to breed more than 13 fish species. It has hatcheries, seed rearing facilities, growout ponds in an integrated style. To scale up the initiative and to create an impact with the society, CIFA has initiated an Aquaculture Technology Park. The park will have an Aquaculture Field School also to impart skill training to the farmers. Additionally, the park will have a mini-feed mill, ornamental fisheries unit, soil testing unit etc. Earlier during 2nd to 3rd March 2021, freshwater pearl culture training was conducted by Dr Shailesh Saurabh, Scientist of ICAR-CIFA, fifteen farmers participated in the training.
Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries Shri Tage Taki inaugurated the park in a grand ceremony in the farm complex. In his speech, he lauded ICAR-CIFA for their outstanding contribution for carrying a development work in a remote place from the mainland. He congratulated the progressive farmer Shri Tana ji for his innovative efforts in the aquaculture and motivated him to bring in more farmers into fish culture enterprise. He also assured complete support from the state government for such development initiatives.
Hon’ble Minister, Home, Shri Bamang Felix, stated that the Aquaculture Technology Park is an innovative concept which needs to be replicated in other places of the state.
Shri Tana Hali Tara, Hon’ble MLA and advisor to Minister of Fishery & Veterinary, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh also congratulated initiatives.
Prof. Saket Kushwaha, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University applauded the noble efforts of CIFA for reaching out to the farmers
In his Special Address through virtual mode, Shri Pratap Chandra Sarangi Hon’ble MOS, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and MSME appreciated the efforts of ICAR-CIFA for developing the Aquaculture technology park by extending knowledge and support to the people of Arunachal Pradesh. He congratulated the progressive farmer for pioneering the aquaculture development in the state. He told that the Aquaculture Technology Park will be playing a key role in fostering the technology dissemination mechanism in the state, in turn it will improve the productivity of the existing fisheries resources and paves the way for climate resilient, sustainable livelihood options for the tribal people and add more proteinaceous diet item to their food basket. He stated that the govt under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is committed for making the country ATMANIRBHAR.
Dr Saroj K. Swain, Director, ICAR-CIFA, Bhubaneswar narrated the achievements and development activities of the institute for the empowerment of the aquafarmers of the country. With regard the Aquaculture Technology Park, he stated that the park is unique and first of its kind in India and this park will serve as a Knowledge Hub and CIFA scientists will be in constant touch with the farmers for providing time to time advisory services. He also told that CIFA is committed towards the development of the aquaculture in the states as well as in the entire north-eastern states.
Dr P.P.Chakrabarti Principal Scientist and Chairman for the NEH programme, CIFA briefed about the early days of the technical interventions in the farm and its evolution to an Aquaculture Technology Park.
More than 500 farmers from adjacent districts joined for the programme. They have been given with live demonstration of different aquaculture activities.