The College of Fisheries, CAU (Imphal), in association with the North East Society for Fisheries and Aquaculture (NESFA), India, celebrated the 24th National Fish Farmers’ Day at the college campus on July 10, 2024, i.e., today. This crucial day is celebrated in India in commemoration of the revolutionary “Induced Breeding Technology” developed by Dr. Hiralal Choudhury and Dr. K. H. Alikhuni on July 10, 1957, which went on to change the face of Indian aquaculture.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. A. B. Patel, Dean of the college, Convener, and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, highlighted the significant contributions of the farmers towards the development of the fisheries sector as well as the role of the College of Fisheries in helping and supporting them. He also acknowledged the support and guidance received from Dr. Anupam Mishra, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of CAU (Imphal).
The programme was graced by Prof. Dr. Ph. Ranjit Sharma, Director of Extension Education, Directorate of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal, Shri Anil S. Kotmire, General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Tripura, Prof. Ratan Kumar Saha, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, Techno India University Tripura, Dr. Burhan U. Choudhury, Principal Scientist and Head, ICAR-Regional Center, Tripura, and Shri Jyotish Talukdar, Director, Kalong-Kapili (NGO), Guwahati, Assam.
The Chief Guest of the programme, Dr. Ph. Ranjit Sharma, Director of Extension Education, CAU, Imphal, inaugurated the Exhibition cum Technology Showcasing. He applauded the college staff and students for their collective initiative.
Dr. Sharma, in his keynote address, emphasized the importance of the day and mentioned the key initiatives of the CAU, Imphal, towards sustainable fishery development in the region. Progressive fish farmers, namely Mr. Rockson Kashung (Manipur), Mr. Khalainbor Pale (Meghalaya), Ms. Yeamoty Pigyor (Arunachal Pradesh), Mr. Da Norbu Sherpa (Sikkim), Mr. Ramdi Thou (Nagaland), Mr. Jaydev Sarkar (Assam), Mr. LALHMUNSANGA (Mizoram), and Mr. Sujit Das (Tripura), were awarded by the Chief Guest and other dignitaries for their remarkable entrepreneurial contributions to different avenues of fisheries and aquaculture, such as seed production, rearing, grow-out, etc. The guests of the event distributed fish seeds and other technology products to the fish farmers of Tripura under this programme.
The programme was jointly sponsored by NABARD, SBI, NFDB, ONGC, TECHNOPREZ, etc. Around two hundred (200) fish farmers joined the programme and interacted with the experts. The event was telecast live on social media through the Public Relations and Media Management Cell of the college. A Farmers-Scientists Workshop on “Blue Transformation in North East India: Farmers’ Perspectives” witnessed wide participation from different sections. The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Prof. Anil Datt Upadhyay, Dept of FEES. The Dean of the College of Fisheries, CAU, provided this information in a press release.
