ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, organized a three-day Training-cum-Exposure Programme on “Mud Crab and Blue Swimmer Crab Farming for Sustainable Livelihood Enhancement of Coastal Scheduled Caste communities” from 4–6 August 2026 at the Muttukadu Experimental Station (MES), ICAR-CIBA, Tamil Nadu, under the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP) programme. A total of 21 Scheduled Caste farmers (11 women and 10 men) from Pudhunemmeli and Kovalam villages of Chengalpattu district participated in the training-cum-exposure programme.
Dr. Raymond Jani Angel welcomed the gathering and presented an overview of the three-day training programme during the inaugural session. Dr. M. Kailasam, Director, ICAR-CIBA, emphasized the importance of adopting scientific mud crab farming technologies, utilizing hatchery-produced quality seed, and diversifying aquaculture practices to improve the income, livelihood security, and socio-economic status of coastal Scheduled Caste farmers. He encouraged the participants to make effective use of the technologies and technical support provided by ICAR-CIBA for establishing sustainable and profitable crab farming enterprises.
Dr.K.Ambasankar, Principal Scientist & HoD, NGBD, ICAR-CIBA, stressed the importance of blue swimmer crab feed, first time of India produced by ICAR-CIBA, and its management. He also highlighted El Nino effect in coastal regions. During the programme, Dr.M.Jayanthi has highlighted the importance of site selection for crab farming. Dr.P.Mahalakshmi has emphasized the importance of brackishwater aquaculture technologies in enhancing the livelihood and income of coastal Scheduled Caste farming communities.
The training programme comprised interactive lectures during the forenoon sessions covering topics such as diversification in brackishwater aquaculture, mud crab seed production, nursery rearing and farming technologies, integrated mud crab–shrimp farming, integrated mud crab–seaweed farming, feed technology, soil and water quality management, and crab diseases and their management. The afternoon sessions included hands-on practical training and exposure visits to the ICAR-CIBA hatchery facilities at MES, Muttukadu, and a commercial crab farm at Kalpakkam, Chengalpattu district.
Dr. R.Aravind delivered the training remarks and appreciated the enthusiastic participation of the farmers throughout the programme during validatory programme held on 6th August 2926. As part of the livelihood support initiative, hatchery-produced mud crab seeds, digital weighing balances, and plastic containers were also distributed to the participating farmers to facilitate income generation through crab farming. Participants expressed their satisfaction with the practical sessions and exposure visits and requested ICAR-CIBA to organize more such capacity-building and demonstration programmes for their upliftment of livelihood. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Dr. K. P.Sandeep, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIBA.
