The Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT) working in collaboration with the Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) in Meghalaya launched a training programme geared towards establishing fishery-based enterprises and value chains for fishery products in the North East.
The five day training programme, which goes by the title “Advances in Fish Harvest and Post-Harvest Technologies,” is being attended by Subject Matter Specialists from 26 Krishi Vigyan Kendras in Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya.
Mr. George Ninan, the Director of CIFT, pointed out the importance of the value chain for fish and fishery products and said the development of the enterprise in the fisheries sector in the North East will be the main aim of the institute. He pointed out the role of CIFT-ATARI Meghalaya partnership towards the utilization of the fishery resources of the area.
A.K. Mohanty, the Director of ATARI, remarked that fish production in the North Eastern states has been gradually rising as a result of naturally favorable conditions, governmental support, and increased consumer demand. Yet, there is a deficit of about 43 thousand tonnes of fish in the region; this causes imports of fish from Bangladesh and other Indian states.
Mohanty pinpointed the major possibilities in the fisheries sector of the North East where he referred to the abundant water resources, wide array of fish species, strong demand, export chances, and potential of technology and ecological development.
