Kakdwip Research Centre (KRC) of ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) initiated an alternate livelihood improvement for Scheduled Caste beneficiaries through brackishwater aquaculture. e in the village Buddhapur, in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal under Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP). Selected groups were provided with inputs like seed, feed, and net cage. They were exposed to seed production techniques, brackishwater fish farming and cage preparation. Under the capacity building programmes they acquired skills in pond preparation, seed acclimation, fish sampling etc.. Two-tier fish farming of brackishwater fish (tilapia and Nona Tengra, Mystus gulio) in the backyard ponds of selected household was demonstrated as livelihood option. In this innovative fish farming model, tilapia was stocked in the backyard pond and M. gulio was farmed in cage (3 x 2 x 1 m) of ten household ponds (area: 250 m2). At the end of six months, a total of 30 kg of tilapia and 4 kg of M. gulio were harvested from each and revenue of Rs. 6,100 was generated for each family. Apart from the two-tier farming demonstration, group were also exposed to breeding and seed production of brackishwater ornamental fishes (orange chromide and pearl spot) and Mystus gulio.
On 3rd June, 2022 a harvest mela was organized by the KRC of CIBA in the presence of media to harvest the farmed brackishwater fishes. Dr. Prem Kumar, Senior Scientist, Fish Culture Division addressed about the two tier farming model of M. gulio and brackishwater fishes and its importance in Sundarban area. During the harvest, Dr. Debasis De, Officer in-Charge, KRC of CIBA motivated the group to extend the activities at a large scale. Dr. Sanjoy Das, Principal Scientist and Dr. P. Leesa, Scientist from Animal Health Division emphasized the importance of fish health and water quality management in two-tier aquafarming. Mrs. Babita Mandal, Scientist, Fish Culture Division narrated about the importance of seed quality in fish farming. On behalf of women SC group Dr. Prem Kumar expressed sincere thanks to Dr. K.P. Jithendran, Director, ICAR-CIBA and Dr. T. Bhuvaneswari, Scientist, Nodal Officer, SCSP for funding support.
