The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala, officially launched the Second Edition of the ICAR-CIBA Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 at the campus of Navsari Agricultural University in Gujarat. The event garnered the active participation of around 410 aqua farmers hailing from the coastal regions of Gujarat.
In his address, Shri Parshottam Rupala extended his gratitude towards Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for granting approval to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampadan Yojana, which allocates a substantial sum of Rs. 20,050 crores for the sustainable growth of the fisheries and aquaculture sector. Under this program, ICAR-CIBA is spearheading a project focused on the “Genetic Improvement Program of Penaeus indicus (Indian white shrimp)-Phase-I” with an allocation of Rs. 25 crores. This endeavor is designed to establish a National Genetic Improvement Facility dedicated to shrimp breeding. Minister Rupala also lauded CIBA scientists for their achievement in developing EHP-Cura-I, a therapeutic solution aimed at controlling EHP disease in shrimp, urging its prompt availability to farmers.
During the event, the Minister inaugurated the Shrimp Crop Insurance scheme, crafted in collaboration with the Agricultural Insurance Company (AIC) and with the backing of ICAR-CIBA. The Chairman and Managing Director of AIC, Smt. Grija Subramanian, graced the event with her presence during this milestone launch.
Two pivotal Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were inked on this occasion: one between CIBA and the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) and another between CIBA and the Fish Farmers Producer Organization (FFPO) of Gujarat. These agreements are intended to facilitate the implementation of crop insurance for aquaculture, with premium subsidies extended by the NFDB, and provision of technological support to the FFPO.
Minister Rupala also disbursed a sum of Rs. 40.05 Lakhs in earnings to beneficiaries from SC, ST, and Cage Culture backgrounds in the Navsari region. This income was generated through the application of CIBA technologies, fostering livelihood development, and benefiting from the guidance of NGRC-CIBA scientists.
In his address, Minister Rupala encouraged the Department of Fisheries in Gujarat to extend full-fledged support to the Navsari-Gujarat Regional Centre of CIBA, which has been diligently serving aqua farmers not only in Gujarat but also in inland saline areas encompassing Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. He proposed the expansion of this center into a comprehensive research facility catering to the entire western coastline.
The Union Minister also conducted an inspection of an exhibition showcasing live shrimps and finfish species, as well as shrimp and fish seeds produced by CIBA hatcheries. He personally distributed CIBA-produced Asian sea bass fish seeds to local farmers.
Guest of Honor, Member of Parliament Shri C.R. Patil, praised ICAR-CIBA for organizing this significant event in Navsari and reaffirmed unwavering support for the Navsari-Gujarat Regional Centre of CIBA.
Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries) of ICAR, stressed the pressing need for innovative strategies both in the market and within the farming sector to address challenges confronting Indian shrimp exports, particularly in light of increased competition from Ecuador.
Dr. Kuldeep K Lal, Director of ICAR-CIBA, emphasized the funding provided by the Government of India for the National Disease Surveillance Programme for Aquatic Animal Diseases under the Prime Minister’s Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He also introduced the “Report Fish Disease APP,” designed to enable farmers to report both existing and emerging pathogens.
The ICAR-CIBA Shrimp Farmers Conclave-2023 received financial backing from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), the Government of India under the PMMSY scheme, NABARD, SCAFi, and the Agricultural Insurance Corporation Ltd. The event was seamlessly coordinated by a team of scientists led by Dr. Akshaya Panigrahi, Mr. Pankaj A Patil, and Mr. Jose Antony of the NGRC of CIBA. An impressive number of officials, technicians, faculty members, and students also actively participated in this impactful event.