Capacity Building of Sagar Island Farmers in Sustainable Fish Farming organised

Capacity Building of Sagar Island Farmers in Sustainable Fish Farming organised

19^th – 21^st February 2025, Kolkata

Sagar Island, located in the southernmost part of West Bengal's Sundarbans, is home to around 2.5 lakh people, with fish farming being a significant occupation. However, due to its remote location, the fish farmers here, particularly from marginalized communities, face challenges in accessing modern and scientific methods of aquaculture. To address these issues and empower local farmers, ICAR-CIFE Kolkata Centre, in collaboration with Vivekananda Institute of Biotechnology (VIB), Nimpith, organized a three-day training program on "Modern Methods of Freshwater Aquaculture" from February 19 to 21, 2025. The training programme focused on providing practical knowledge to 30 Scheduled Caste fish farmers, including 18 women, equipping them with up-to-date practices in aquaculture. 

Dr B.K. Datta, Director, VIB, emphasized the importance of addressing the challenges faced by farmers on the ground and highlighted the significance of skill development in modern fish farming techniques. 

Dr T.K. Ghoshal, Head, ICAR-CIFE Kolkata Centre, provided insights into the economic aspects of farm-made feed, stressing the importance of proper feeding strategies.

The training programme featured expert lectures on scientific fish culture techniques, along with hands-on demonstrations on farm-made feed preparation, water quality testing using CIFE pH and DO kits and the preparation of value-added fish products. 

The experts led sessions, imparting valuable skills to the participants. Additionally, the farmers were provided with CIFE pH and DO kits to assist with water quality testing on their farms.

As part of the training, a manual titled "Modern Methods of Freshwater Aquaculture" (in Bengali) was also released, providing farmers with a comprehensive resource for adopting modern aquaculture practices. The initiative aims to improve the livelihoods of fish farmers in the region, promoting sustainable practices and enhancing their economic opportunities through scientific fish farming techniques.