Navsari-Gujarat Research Centre (NGRC) of ICRA-CIBA conducted a 3-day training program on brackishwater cage culture at Navsari, Gujarat, collaborating with the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat, from 22nd to 24th March 2022. This National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) sponsored training program was aimed to impart technical know-how on brackishwater low-volume cage culture to farmers and entrepreneurs of Navsari, Surat and Valsad districts of Gujarat.
Brackishwater low volume cage culture is an emerging economic activity in the west coast and has been successfully demonstrated by ICAR-CIBA in Maharashtra as a sustainable enterprising farming model in the last three years. The program was inaugurated by Dr. K.P. Jithendran, Director, ICAR-CIBA, virtually on 22nd March, 2022. In his inaugural address, he stressed the significance of the training program for proper dissemination and adoption of the technology by the farmers. He also thanked the authorities of the Department of Fisheries, Gujarat and NFDB, Hyderabad for the funding support. Mr. Pankaj Patil, Coordinator of the training program and Officer-in-Charge, NGRC briefed the interventions and advances made in cage farming by ICAR-CIBA in the west coast. The training consisted of theoretical and practical sessions on various aspects of brackishwater cage culture, emphasizing species, site selection, seed quality, construction of cages, feeding, grow-out, and health management. A field visit to cage culture demonstration site in Palghar, Maharashtra, was also organized to impart hands-on training to the participants. About 50 persons participated in the training, and they were given certificates on completion of training.
