National Fish Farmers’ Day is celebrated on July 10, to commemorate the stupendous achievement of induced breeding technique, which is contemplated as the torchbearer of the ‘First Blue Revolution’ in India. Prof. Hiralal Chaudhary and Dr. K. H. Alikunhi pioneered the ‘Induced breeding technique which was successfully developed in Angul fish farm, Odisha on July 10, 1957, under the then Central Inland Fisheries Research Station, presently known as ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore.
The programme started with paying tribute to Dr. Hiralal Choudhury and Dr. K. H. Alikunhi. Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI welcomed the dignitaries, farmers and all present there. He emphasised that the government has provided aid for fisheries development through PMMSY to the tune of Rs. 20,000 crores. Moreover, ICAR-CIFRI has started a programme for empowering 3000 women by providing them input for developing fish culture units such as ornamental fish culture under the SCSP programme. Dr. B.B. Jana, Retired Professor, University of Kalyani, West Bengal, Fellow, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences, New Delhi, and Secretary Kalyani Shine India appreciated CIFRI’s initiative for farmers’ livelihood upliftment. He was concerned about river pollution and deteriorating environmental condition which is posing detrimental effect on the fisheries, their production, and conservation. Lokman Molla, Secretary, Kultoli Milantirth Society, Sundarban appreciated CIFRI’s initiative in Sundarban. Prof. Kuldeep Krishan Sharma, Chief Guest and Vice-Chancellor, Himalayan University, Itanagar highlighted that in the inland fisheries sector, ICAR-CIFRI is a pioneer institute and has contributed immensely to women's empowerment. An MOU was also signed between ICAR-CIFRI and Himalayan University, Itanagar for research and academic collaboration. He expressed this collaborative project can be very rewarding in the future.
He told that the farmers who got trained at CIFRI can play a role of ambassador to disseminate knowledge and technology to other places, resulting in tackling the food security problem. In the programme, 9 progressive fish farmers from Sapaul (Bihar), West Champaran (Jharkhand), Eluru (Andhra Pradesh), Nalbari (Assam), Gangtok (Sikkim, Balasore (Odisha) and South 24 Paragnas (West Bengal) were awarded. The objective of awarding farmers is to appreciate and popularise their works as well as to encourage other farmers towards the fisheries sector. One book entitled, “Success Stories from Wetlands” was released in which 8 wetlands of states like West Bengal, Bihar, Manipur, and Assam are covered.
The regional centres of the Institute, Bangalore, Vadodara and Prayagraj also celebrated National Fish Farmers Day, covering 155 farmers and 20 students.
