ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, along with its regional centres at Kakdwip, West Bengal, and Navsari, Gujarat, celebrated National Fish Farmers Day on 10 July 2026 by organizing awareness programmes for aquaculture stakeholders. The celebrations focused on sustaining brackishwater aquaculture under El Niño conditions and promoting aquaculture insurance as an important adaptation strategy to mitigate climate- and disease-related production risks.
A total of 271 participants, including aqua farmers, farm women, officials from the Agricultural Insurance Company (AIC), scientists, faculty members, government officials, and research scholars, participated in the programmes conducted at the headquarters and regional centres.
Presiding over the function at ICAR-CIBA, Chennai, Dr. M. Kailasam, Director, ICAR-CIBA, emphasized that aquaculture insurance is an important institutional mechanism for minimizing production risks arising from climatic uncertainties and disease outbreaks. He informed the gathering that five insurance companies have launched aquaculture insurance products with technical support from ICAR-CIBA. He further stressed that converting proven technology packages into viable business models is essential for ensuring their rapid diffusion and adoption among farmers.
Dr. N. Parasuraman, Senior Team Lead, M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai, who attended as the Guest of Honour, highlighted the importance of attracting and retaining youth in food production sectors. He informed the participants that a major national-level initiative is being planned in this regard and emphasized the need to align institutional programmes with national development priorities.
Dr. S. Balasundari, Dean, Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNJFU), Ponneri, attended as the Chief Guest. She urged scientists to orient their research programmes towards addressing the practical challenges faced by aquaculture farmers. She also emphasized the importance of regular field visits and developing the capacity to provide location-specific and customized solutions to farmers.
During the programme, the Director and distinguished guests distributed certificates to 12 officials of the Agricultural Insurance Company (AIC) who successfully completed a three-day training programme on “Aquaculture Insurance Survey, Risk Assessment and Loss Evaluation” conducted at ICAR-CIBA from 8–10 July 2026.
Farmer representatives Mrs. Mohana and Thiru Ravi, along with Mr. Gaurav Gupta from AIC, shared their experiences and highlighted the significant role played by ICAR-CIBA in promoting aquaculture-based livelihood development, sustainable shrimp farming, and the development of insurance products for the aquaculture sector.
At the Kakdwip Research Centre of ICAR-CIBA, West Bengal, Prof. B. C. Mal, former Professor of IIT Kharagpur and former Vice-Chancellor of JIS University, attended as the Chief Guest. Dr.Manasi Chakraborty from the Ramakrishna Ashram Krishi Vigyan Kendra (RAKVK), Nimpith, South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal, participated as the Guest of Honour. Prof. Mal emphasized the need for robust and climate-resilient aquaculture technologies to counter the adverse impacts of climate change and sustain the growth of the blue economy. Dr. Chakraborty highlighted the crucial role of aquaculture and fisheries in ensuring food and nutritional security for the rapidly growing global population.
As part of the celebrations, all participating farmers received a 10-kg bag of CIBA ‘Chingudi Plus’ shrimp feed. In addition, pond-reared Pearl Spot (Etroplus suratensis) seed produced at the Kakdwip Research Centre was distributed to selected Scheduled Caste farmers belonging to the Budhakhali Sundari SC Fish Farmers Welfare Society (BSSCFFWS) in Namkhana Block of South 24 Parganas District, West Bengal.
Similarly, at the Navsari Gujarat Regional Centre (NGRC) of ICAR-CIBA, the event was organised jointly with the College of Fisheries Science, Kamdhenu University, The programme was chaired by the Director of Extension Education, Kamdhenu University, and attended by officials from the Fisheries Department, Government of Gujarat, fisheries students, and fish farmers from the Ukai region. Progressive fish and shrimp farmers were felicitated in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of fisheries and aquaculture in South Gujarat.Following the meeting, participating farmers visited the NGRC Matwad Farm to observe the institute’s facilities and ongoing aquaculture research and development activities.
