The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi has successfully implemented the Government of India's Scheduled Caste Sub Plan Project for helping the Scheduled Caste families in Puthukudi Village, Thondi, Thiruvadanai Taluk in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu to empower them through the seaweed and marine ornamental fish farming.
The Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI made the villagers capable of earning an additional income of Rs. 96,000 annually through seaweed farming. The Institute's efforts are underway to help them reap profit through other forms of Mariculture like Marine Ornamental Fish Seed Rearing.
Seaweed farming
Being located near the seashore, the majority of Scheduled Caste families (Kadiyar community) in the Puthukudi Village are involved in fishing in Palk Bay. The ICAR-CMFRI organized Awareness-cum-Training Programme on “Mariculture Technologies for diversified livelihood” to empower the villagers through the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan Project in September - 2019.
A total of 28 fishers in 10 groups were selected for undertaking the seaweed farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii under the SCSP component of the Institute, AINP on Mariculture and NICRA Projects. Each fisher was provided with 20 monoline units. The cost for making one monoline unit is Rs. 1,600/- and the entire cost for making 575 monoline units was borne under the SCSP component of the Projects. The Seaweed farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii was initiated with 20 monoline units during the second week of November - 2019. The total fresh seaweed production from three cycles was around 90 tonnes. Since, the entire Start-Up cost was met under the SCSP project; each fisher will earn Rs. 96,000/- annually, around Rs. 10,000/- per month with five crops in a year depending on the climatic conditions.
Marine ornamental fish culture
A total of 18 fisherwomen in 6 groups were selected for undertaking the Marine Ornamental Fish Seed Rearing under the SCSP component of Institute and AINP on Mariculture. The Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI had established 6 sheds (each 216 sq. ft. area) along with all accessories. Initially, two sheds were commissioned by Shri K. Muraleedharan, Member, Institute Management Committee of ICAR-CMFRI on 3rd June, 2020. The Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI has provided 600 numbers of clown fishes in 3 varieties to each group (total of 1,200 clown fishes of 2 cm size). The SHG will become capable of selling the fishes after rearing about 30-45 days. A group can earn around Rs. 30,000/- per month.
The ICAR-CMFRI also helped the beneficiaries by linking them with the marketers for both seaweed and marine ornamental fish sale. The fishermen are hopeful that the income through these diversified livelihood options will be very useful in improving their standards of living.
(Source: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi)
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