Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
A field day was held in Meghalaya on the occasion of successful cage culture trial in Umiam reservoir organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) – Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Regional Centre, Guwahati in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region (ICAR RC-NEHR) on December 9.
The ICAR stated that Umiam has successfully carried out cage culture in Umiam Reservoir through participation of tribal fishers of the locality under the Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union (RFU) for assessing the techno-economic feasibility of cage culture technology, which is the first of its kind in the NE hilly state.
The programme was organized under the guidance of Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Dr. BK Das, Director, ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam Dr. VK Mishra, and coordinated by Head, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati, Dr. BK Bhattacharjya, as well as Dr. SK Das, Head, Division of Animal and Fisheries Science (DAFS), ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam.
The programme was attended by 80 tribal fishers (including 25 women beneficiaries) of the locality under the RFU led by D. Majaw, President. Scientists and technical personnel’s of the two ICAR Institutes namely Dr. Pronob Das, Dr. S Yengkkpam, Dr. S Borah, T Tayung, P Devi (Scientists) and Alakesh Das (STO) acted as technical expert.
Dr. SK Das informed the participants that cage culture in Umiam reservoir of Meghalaya was initiated for the first time during 2019 by ICAR-CIFRI Regional Centre, Guwahati in collaboration with the ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam and Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union.
He briefed about the outcome of the three cage culture trials conducted in the reservoir. He also highlighted the cage culture activities being carried out by ICAR-CIFRI in different parts of Northeast India.
The sale of cage reared fishes was inaugurated by Assistant Director (Fisheries), government of Meghalaya Paul Tariang. The sale will directly benefit 25 fisher women families of the Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union.
On the occasion, some fishes (mainly Rohu) reared in cages were released in the reservoir as a fish stock enhancement measures for sustainability.