ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture under the guidance of Dr.K.K.Vijayan, Director distributed soil and water health cards (SWHC) to about 71 farmers of Chillakur Mandal, SPSR Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh in presence of Smt. R.R.Anupama, Associate Professor & Head, Department of Aquatic Environment Management, Fisheries College, Muthukur, and Sri S.K. Chand Basha, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Gudur Division, Andhra Pradesh during ‘Brackishwater Aquaculture Farmers Meet’ conducted at Gudur on 18th December 2020 on the occasion of the celebration of World Soil Day under National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) project. Dr. M. Muralidhar, Principal Scientist, Scientist-in-charge, Environment Group & PI, NICRA Project narrated the objectives of the meeting and the importance of soil and water health in aquaculture productivity enhancement. Dr.S.V.Alavandi, Head, Aquatic Animal Health & Environment Division & Director (I/c) in the presidential address impressed upon the importance of maintenance of soil and water parameters and adoption of better management practices in shrimp culture and to reduce the outbreaks of diseases. Sri SK Chand Basha explained the gathering about the schemes of Pradhan Manthri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for increasing production from fisheries and upliftment of socio-economic conditions of fisher folk in the country. The aspects related to brackishwater aquaculture in the climate change scenario, water and soil quality issues and management concerning Chillakur Mandal, feed management, species diversification, and current scenario of diseases in vannamei farming were discussed during the farmers’–scientists’ interaction meeting organized onsite and online mode by scientists of ICAR-CIBA. Dr. M. Muralidhar, Dr. C.P. Balasubramanian, Dr.J.Syama Dayal, Dr.M.Poornima, Dr.R.Saraswathy, Sri J.Ashok Kumar, Dr. P.Kumararaja and Dr. Suvana S. interacted with the farmers.
