BHUBANESWAR: Chancellor of Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Bihar Prof PK Mishra stressed on studying and combining traditional wisdom and modern technology in fish farming.
Speaking at the National Fish Farmers’ Day organised by Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) here on Tuesday, he congratulated the scientists for making fish breeding so easy to adopt and practice.
He suggested to use sensor and IT tools to know the number of fishes in big ponds and lakes as well as to study fish behaviour. “Fish biologists and informatics scientists should collaborate for developing improved technology,” he said and urged to work on water body retention policy. Acting Director of CIFA Dr BR Pillai said the invention of breeding technology on the day in 1957 is hailed as a landmark achievement in the history of fisheries.
“The institute has contributed significantly towards development for breeding and culture of economically important fish and shellfish, use of plastics in aquaculture, feeds for different life stages of fish, disease diagnostics kits and other useful technologies for farmers,” he said.
Six fish farmers from different parts of the country were felicitated for their contributions in the development of freshwater aquaculture. A scientist-farmer interaction session was also organised on the theme ‘doubling farmers’ income’. Among others, former Director of CIFA, N Sarangi and former Principal Scientist SD Gupta also spoke on multiple and off-season breeding, bigger fingerling production and other technological advancements made in the field of freshwater aquaculture.