State-of-the-art aquaculture laboratory inaugurated at Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh

The Karam Chand Thapar (KCT) group in collaboration with ICAR-Central Institute Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai established Community Development Centre for Learning, Livelihood and Research (CDC-LLR) at Bhimavaram, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh (AP). A state-of-the-art aquaculture diagnostic laboratory, established under this partnership was inaugurated today by Dr.K.K.Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA.  

Dr. Vijayan in his inaugural address highlighted that CSR partnership with research institutions such as CIBA could benefit farmers in getting access to quality and affordable diagnostic services, required for aquafarming. CIBA has already launched Vanami Shrimpapp, a mobile app for this purpose and results of the diagnostic services could be sent through this app, he added. He said CIBA has also developed a system to issue soil and water health cards to the farmers through the KCT labs.

Shri.P.Koteeswara Rao, Additional Director of Fisheries, Andhra Pradesh appreciated the role of CIBA in providing standard operating protocols and novel diagnostics to the lab and hailed the model of corporate research partnership in delivering quality diagnostic services to the farmers.

Shri Ramakanth Akula, CEO, the Waterbase Limited, in his address emphasized that the strategic partnership with CIBA is a natural alliance to serve the aqua farmers without any commercial interest, and the next lab will be established in the state of Gujarat, followed by West Bengal.

Few farmers of Bhimavaram region received soil and water health card on this occasion.

(Source: ICAR-Central Institute Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)