Twenty fish/shrimp farmers from Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, attended a three-day training session on "Best Management Practices for Shrimp Farming in Inland Saline Areas" at the College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana.
Shrimp cultivation in salt-affected degraded soils has transformed aquaculture expansion in the country's north-western region, according to Dr. Prabjeet Singh, the course coordinator, with a high profit margin of 3-5 lakh/acre in 100-120 days.
Diverse aquaculture technologies are being promoted by the university to use fresh and salt water resources. Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF Informed that awareness and capacity building programs are regularly conducted by the university to educate the stakeholders to expand aquaculture activities.
Additionally, a one-day seminar on "Pangas Catfish Farming and Processing" was held at the university's demonstration unit at its Regional Research and Training Center in Talwara as part of the RKVY project. According to course coordinator Dr. S. N. Datta, 27 aspiring farmers learned about the additional benefit of pangas farming, which offers three times higher productivity/profitability.
Another group of 27 farmers participated in a 5-day training session at COF where they learned practical skills in "Carp Culture." According to Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, the course coordinator, carps are the most cultivated fish species, accounting for more than 85% of all freshwater aquaculture production and providing a better income than the conventional rotation of wheat and paddy crops.
Both Dr. J.PS. Gill, Director of Research, and Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education at GADVASU, emphasised the value of such initiatives in helping participants gain entrepreneurial confidence. The successful "Lab to Land" project of the university is playing an important role in the successful adoption of cutting-edge technology at the farm level, according to Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of GADVASU.
