Diseases are the major production risk, and the microsporidiosis continues to cause production losses and severe economic strain to the shrimp farmers to the tune of Rs.4000 crore annually. ICAR-CIBA has developed diagnostics and a plant-based therapeutic, CIBA EHP Cura, for the effective management of the disease. To sensitize the shrimp farmers about the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) Chennai, an awareness campaign was conducted at Ramanathapuram, Tamil Nadu, on 11th May 2026. About 120 shrimp farmers participated in the interactions.
Dr.T.Sathish Kumar, Senior Scientist and team lead, gave detailed account on the disease spread, transmission, prevention, and management of EHP and WFS with vivid visuals. He further explained the development and field validation of CIBA EHP Cura indicating its efficiency in controlling the disease with field evidence. Subsequently, the farmers who have used this therapeutic shared their experiences about its proficiency.
During the occasion, demo-samples of CIBA EHP Cura were given to five progressive farmers for testing at their ponds to see the field performance, as seeing is believing.
The participant farmers actively interacted with the scientists during the farmer-scientist interaction regarding the subject matter.
Shri. Chinnakuppan, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Ramanathapuram highlighted the pro-active measures of the state fisheries department in regulating the shrimp farming in the district and urged the farmers to utilize the opportunity to avail the services of ICAR-CIBA for their farming.
Dr.K.Ambasankar, Head, Nutrition, Genetics and Biotechnology Division of CIBA, in his presidential remarks, underscored that the district has tremendous potential for brackishwater aquaculture and advised the farmers to mobilize themselves as clusters and get benefited by availing the schemes of NFDB for establishing feed production units. He further highlighted the potential of CIBA’s Super Intensive Precision and Natural Shrimp Farming (SIPNSF) technology.
Dr.R.Ananda Raja, Principal Scientist, informed about the major diseases affecting the shrimps and their efficient management. He further outlined the traceability programme being initiated by CIBA for meeting the domestic and international market requirements.
Dr.M.Kumaran, Principal Scientist, in his welcome speech set the background of the meeting and briefed about the CIBA’s initiatives in addressing the production and marketing risks of shrimp farming.
Dr. A.Nagavel, Chief Technical Officer, CIBA proposed the vote of thanks.
This sensitization programme was conducted with the funding support of the National Fisheries Development Board, Govt. of India.
