ICAR-CIBA, Chennai conducted a workshop cum training on “Biofloc Technology (BFT) for Nursery and Growout Aquaculture’ from 9th to 12th November 2021 for aqua- farmers and potential aquapreneurs entering into the Biofloc based shrimp farming. BFT is becoming the sought after technology for farming fish and shrimps in India as a sustainable alternative for the intensive aquaculture. Biofloc utilizes the bacterial waste conversion approach, which deals with the toxic metabolites produced by the fishes in the intensive aquaculture system. ICAR-CIBA has been leading the research and dissemination on ‘BFT’ since a decade and has come up with cost effective biofloc technologies for the nursery and growout aquaculture. Many participants of our previous workshops are most successful entrepreneurs now and become trainers taking forward this innovative and diversified farming approach.
Dr. K. P. Jithendran, Director, ICAR-CIBA, in his inaugural speech briefed about the importance of biofloc farming practice in the field of aquaculture. He emphasized that aquaculture is marching towards achieving the Sustainable Developmental Goal by 2030 and such hands on training is important than the knowledge acquired through social media. Dr. C.P. Balasubramanian, SIC, CCD gave the opening remarks of the training programme and pointed that we are back to conducting the offline trainings observing all the COIVD protocols. Dr. Akshaya Panigrahi, Principal Scientist & Course coordinator, explained about the technology and its role in achieving sustainable intensification, introduced various topics, which were covered during the program. In his speech, he mentioned that adopting the biofloc technology is a means for doubling of farmers’ income and beyond.
Thirteen trainees from various states of the country participated in the four days training programme despite the inclement cyclonic weather in Chennai. The training programme dealt with diverse sessions including the theory as well as practical classes, which discussed in detail the generation of biofloc, pre stocking, post stocking, feeding, management and economics of the biofloc farming activities. The valedictory session was organized on 12-11-21. The trainees provided the feedback of the training programme in the valedictory session. Certificates were distributed to the participants there after.
