ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, conducted a workshop and exposure visit in collaboration with Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, on “Recycling of fish waste to value added products, CIBA-Planktonplus and CIBA-Hortiplus” for empowering and uplifting the lives of coastal communities at Olaikuda village, Rameswaram taluk, Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu during 1st – 2nd August 2024. This program was organised part of the Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science & Technology, New Delhi funded project entitled “Establishment of DBT rural bio-resource complex at Ramanathapuram district, Tamil Nadu”. About 60 villagers participated in the programmes along with farmers, panchayat leaders, Self Help Group members, students, RSFFPO members and scientists from ICAR-CIBA, Chennai. CIBA-Planktonplus and CIBA-Hortiplus were distributed to the participants.
During the workshop CIBA Scientists explained the process of fish waste processing, preparation of value-added products, application of these products in agriculture and aquaculture, marketing opportunities etc. CIBA scientists informed that Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA had emphasized the potential of technology to convert fish waste to products to increase agriculture and aquaculture productivity in enhancing the country’s food production. Dr.P. Mahalakshmi, Principal Scientist, CIBA, and Principal Investigator of the project explained how the technology helped resource-poor fisher groups to start a registered company and produce more than 15 tonnes of products annually. Dr K P Sandeep, Scientist, CIBA, and Co-Principal Investigator of the project showed the various steps involved in the processing and explained the challenges and opportunities in marketing the value-added products.
Shri.T. Kennit Raj, fish farmer and proprietor of V.S. Fish Waste Hydrolysate, Kasimedu and Nammbikkai Fish Farmers Group, Pattinapakkam, Tamil Nadu, shared his experience about the establishment of fish waste processing unit at Nambikkai Nagar and Kasimedu, Chennai, under the technical guidance and support of CIBA for the production of CIBA-Planktonplus and CIBA Hortiplus, recycling of fish waste to value added products. He has expressed their happiness about the upliftment of their socio-economic status and also to provide an alternative livelihood to coastal communities. Mr. S. Tamil Selvaraja, CEO, Rameswaram Segaram Fish Farmers Producer Organisation (RSFFPO), Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, expressed his gratitude to CIBA for empowering coastal communities including the members of RSFFPO through fish waste recycling technology.
Dr.P.Mahalakshmi and Dr.K.P.Sandeep, Scientists, CIBA, coordinated the programmes and addressed all the queries raised by the participants.
Read more: https://ciba.icar.gov.in/?post_type=edmento_events&p=16210
