Cage culture for fisheries a possibility in Meghalaya

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 5, 2022

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Regional Centre, Guwahati in collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam is carrying out cage culture trial in Umiam reservoir through participation of tribal (Khasi) farmers (including women) of locality under the Ri Bhoi Farmers’ Union for assessing the techno-economic feasibility of cage culture technology, which is the first of its kind in the NE hilly state.

SP Ahammed, IAS, Principal Secretary to Govt. of Meghalaya (Fisheries) visited the cage culture site in Umiam reservoir on Thursday along with AL Mawlong MCS, Director (Fisheries), Paul Tariang, Superintendent of Fisheries, Ri Bhoi district and other fisheries officials of Meghalaya.

An Interactive meeting on Prospects of cage culture in Meghalaya’ was organized at the cage culture site in Umiam reservoir at Umniuh Khwan village.

The programme was organized under the overall guidance of Dr BK Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, Dr VK Mishra, Director, ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam and Coordinated by Dr BK Bhattacharjya, Head (Acting), ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati as well as Dr SK Das, Principal Scientist & Head (In-charge), Fisheries Unit, ICAR RC for NEH Region, Umiam.

Scientists and technical personnel of the two ICAR Institutes viz., Dr S Yengkokpam (Sr. Scientist), Dr Pronob Das, Dr S Borah, T Tayung (Scientists), A Das (TO) and P Mahanta (STA) as well as AK Borah, I/c NFDB NE Centre, Guwahati participated in the interactive programme.

The programme was attended by the local tribal fishers and farmers (including 18 women) of locality under Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union along with D Majaw, President of the Union and the local Village Headman.

Dr SK Das informed the participants that cage culture in Umiam reservoir of Meghalaya being carried out since 2019 by ICAR-CIFRI Regional Centre, Guwahati and the ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam with support from Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union. He briefed about the outcome of the three cage culture trials conducted in the reservoir. He also highlighted the cage culture activities being carried out by ICAR-CIFRI in different parts of India with special emphasis on Northeast India. He also informed that ICAR-CIFRI has commercialized CIFRI-GI cage, CIFRI-HDPE pen and CIFRI-CAGEGROW feed for openwaters.

AL Mawlong thanked both the ICAR Institutes for their effort for development of cage culture including openwaters in the state.

Paul Tariang explained the deliberations to the local fishers in Khasi. D Majaw thanked both ICAR the Institute and DDG (Fisheries), ICAR, New Delhi for initiating cage culture in the reservoir for the benefit of the local community and gave feedback about the programme.

The Principal Secretary and the Director (Fisheries), Meghalaya interacted with the Scientists of both the ICAR Institutes, representative of NFDB and beneficiaries of cage culture on different aspects.

After deliberations, the Principal Secretary requested both the ICAR Institutes to carry out studies on other possible uses of the reservoir for higher livelihood support and technological support for large scale adoption of cage culture in the state.