ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, Uttarakhand organized a one-day workshop on ‘Boosting cold water aquaculture and fisheries in Meghalaya’ on 18th August 2023, at Umiam, in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for North East Hill Region and Department of Fisheries, Meghalaya. The Hon’ble Minister of Fisheries, Meghalaya, Shri Alexander L. Hek was the chief guest of this workshop. Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Director, ICAR-DCFR; Shri Sibhi Chakravarthy Sadhu, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Meghalaya; Dr. V.K. Mishra, Director, ICAR-RC NEH; Dr. A.K. Mohanty, Director, ICAR-ATARI Zone VII; Dr. S.V. Ngachan, Former Director, ICAR-RC NEH; and Smti A.L. Mawlong, Director, Department of Fisheries, Meghalaya, were the other distinguished participants of the workshop. The workshop was attended by nearly 100 farmers, entrepreneurs and interested stakeholders from various parts of Meghalaya. Dr. Pandey set the context for the workshop by elaborating the potential of cold water aquaculture and fisheries to provide new livelihood avenues and nutritional security for the people of Meghalaya. He also highlighted the promising cold water aquaculture technologies developed by ICAR-DCFR which can be implemented in Meghalaya. During his chief guest address, Shri A.L. Hek emphasized on the need to achieve self-sufficiency in fish production in Meghalaya by promoting cold water aquaculture and adopting new technologies in suitable regions. He also mentioned that ICAR-DCFR should open a research center in Meghalaya and prepare a complete road map for cold water aquaculture development in Meghalaya.
In the following sessions, different resource persons and experts deliberated on the best aquaculture practices in rainbow trout farming, resource efficient intensive trout production systems (RAS),ornamental fish-based livelihood avenues ,sustainable integrated fish farming opportunities and the necessity to conserve endemic fish biodiversity.
In conjunction with this workshop, the scientists’ team from ICAR-DCFR led by Dr. Pandey, namely, Dr. R.S. Patiyal, Dr. Biju Sam Kamalam and Dr. Rajesh M. explored and identified potential rainbow trout farming sites in Mawphlang, East Khasi Hills. Also, the team inspected the first private trout farm in Meghalaya which is being operated under the technical guidance of ICAR-DCFR, and visited the Government rainbow trout farm in Shillong, during 17 and 19 August 2023. As the next step to develop Coldwater aquaculture in Meghalaya, ICAR-DCFR is planning to establish few rainbow trout raceways in East Khasi Hillsto generate employment and empower local communities, under the tribal sub-plan.
Read more: https://www.dcfr.res.in/download/Meghalaya_workshop_Report.pdf
Original link: https://www.dcfr.res.in/
