A two days national consultation on the prospects and challenges of rainbow trout farming was organized at Bhimtal during 20-21 September 2015. Based on the thorough deliberations, an action plan was drafted to target higher productivity through scientific improvement in inputs, management practices and better governance.
The Directorate also hosted the launch workshop of the taskforce on Himalayan agriculture under the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem.
Through direct visits and other mode of communication, farm specific advisories and technical support were provided to more than 50 rainbow trout growers of Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh and 85 carp farmers of Uttarakhand, including those from the villages adopted under the ‘Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav’ programme.
As a routine activity and on special occasions such as ‘Fish farmers day’ and ‘Jai Kisan Jai Vigyan week’, practical demonstrations of rainbow trout and carp breeding; awareness programmes on fish health management; farmer-scientist interaction meets and farm input distribution programmes were organized by the ICAR-DCFR field centre, Champawat
Rainbow trout farming in clusters was promoted as a remunerative livelihood option in Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand through the NFDB sponsored technology upgradation programme.
To rehabilitate and revive golden mahseer population in their natural habitats, 20,000 hatchery reared fingerlings were released in the mahseer sanctuary near Baijnath temple, Bageshwar and 9000 fingerlings in Bhimtal lake, Uttarakhand.
The research and development activities of the Directorate were exhibited and disseminated to farmers and other stakeholders at sixteen different conferences, seminars and melas organized across the country.
Several groups of students and farmers visited the facilities of the Directorate at Bhimtal and Champawat, and interacted with the scientists.
Under the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation consultancy, a fisheries management plan is being prepared for implementation in the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti hydroelectric project.
Two NFDB sponsored training programmes on specific aspects of hill aquaculture were conducted for state fisheries department officials at Mawpun-Meghalaya and Chatlang-Mizoram. Likewise, two other NFDB sponsored trainings were conducted for fish farmers at Dirang-Arunachal Pradesh and Toli-Uttarakhand.
Under the HRD initiative, the scientific, technical and administrative staffs of the Directorate were encouraged to attend essential capacity building programmes. At the same time, several student research projects are also being supervised and carried out.
A national workshop on ‘coldwater endemic fishes of north-east: avenues and challenges’ was organized at Gangtok, to prepare an action plan for the development of breeding and captive management protocols of important endemic species like Semiplotus semiplotus, Neolissocheilus hexagonolepis, Osteobrama belangiri, etc.
Technical and financial support was provided to the state fisheries departments of Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in various aspects of rainbow trout farming.
Two chocolate mahseer hatcheries were established at Tura, Meghalaya and Tuensang, Nagaland. Captive rearing of golden mahseer at Maka, Sikkim was also facilitated.
Under TSP, several training programmes were conducted for tribal fish farmers and women folk on integrated aquaculture in the hills and post-harvest value addition of fish.
Rainbow trout farming was initiated and promoted in disadvantaged areas such as Dharchula in Uttarakhand and Leh in Jammu & Kashmir.
Frontline demonstrations were organized to create interest and awareness among tribal farmers on the economic benefits of adopting aquaculture. Critical farm inputs such as feed, seed and nets were also distributed to the adopted farmers. |
