ICAR-CIFE Commemorates National Fish Farmers Day 2022

10th July is a red letter day for Indian fisheries. 65 years ago, on this day in 1957, two ICAR scientists Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri and Dr. K.H. Alikunhi achieved a breakthrough in induced breeding of carps. This pioneering work helped mass scale production of quality fish seed and sowed the seeds of blue revolution. India has made great strides since then, making India the second largest aquaculture producer in the world. To mark this milestone event, 10th July is commemorated as National Fish Farmers Day since 2001. Saluting the countless fish farmers and fishers, who toil to provide nutritious and affordable fish for all, ICAR-CIFE Mumbai and its Regional Centres at Kolkata, Kakinada, Rohtak and Powarkheda celebrated the day with enthusiasm and exuberance with participation of nearly 250 farmers, fishers, staff from DoF, KVK, ICAR experts, and industry representatives. CIFE recognized and honoured the contribution of 21 innovative farmers, fishers and aquapreneurs including women and tribal farmers from across India. Be it the biofloc based tilapia aquaculture or innovative live fish marketing and value addition in Maharashtra and Jharkhand or the entrepreneurial shrimp farming in salt-affected areas of Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh or successful fish seed production and rearing in the interiors of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal, they are all stories of success and hope. Befitting the zeal of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and the spirit of International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA) 2022, CIFE organised four farmer-centric workshops were organized to make ICAR’s R&D and outreach activities more responsive to primary producers’ needs.