The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) and its regional centres celebrated the 80th Independence Day of India with patriotic fervour and renewed commitment to national development on 15 August 2026. The celebration was aligned with the national themes “150 Years of Vande Mataram” and “Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047,” which pay tribute to the National Song and emphasize the pivotal role of youth in science, innovation, and entrepreneurship for building a developed India by 2047.
At the institute headquarters in Chennai, Dr. M. Kailasam, Director, ICAR-CIBA, unfurled the National Flag and conveyed Independence Day greetings to the scientists, officers, staff members, and students. In his address, he highlighted several significant achievements of the institute during the year. He emphasized the development and successful demonstration of the Super-Intensive Precision Natural Shrimp Farming (SIPNSF) technology, a sustainable and scalable farming model that can substantially contribute towards the national goal of achieving 40 million metric tonnes of fish production by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision.
Dr. Kailasam also underscored the institute’s recent technological advancements, including the development and field validation of a fishmeal-free shrimp feed, which offers a sustainable alternative to conventional feed ingredients and supports environmentally responsible aquaculture. He further highlighted the institute’s efforts in facilitating the launch of shrimp crop insurance products, aimed at reducing production risks and enhancing the resilience of shrimp farmers.
The programme was graced by Shri Jatindra Nath Swain, IAS (Retd.), Former Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, as the Guest of Honour. Addressing the gathering, he stressed the need for a nationwide awareness campaign to promote domestic fish consumption and improve public understanding of the nutritional value and safety of frozen seafood products. He observed that scientifically processed frozen shrimp is as wholesome and healthy as freshly harvested fish and emphasized the importance of creating consumer confidence in seafood products.
Shri Swain also highlighted the necessity of reducing aquaculture production costs through innovative technologies such as fishmeal-free shrimp feed, which can lessen dependence on marine fish resources, contribute to the conservation of ocean biodiversity, and improve the long-term sustainability of the shrimp farming sector.
The celebrations concluded with a renewed pledge by the ICAR-CIBA fraternity to continue advancing science-led, sustainable aquaculture technologies and contributing towards the realization of Viksit Bharat@2047 through innovation, research excellence, and effective stakeholder engagement.
Dr.Debasis De, Head of Kakdwip Research Centre of CIBA, Kakdwip, West Bengal, Dr.R.Jayakumar, Officer-in-Charge, Muttukadu Experimental Station, CIBA and Dr.Paresh Rathod, Navsari Gujarat Research Centre of CIBA hoisted the National Flag at the respective centres and coordinated the celebrations.
Kakdwip Research Centre of ICAR CIBA (KRC), Kakdwip, West Bengal
Muttukadu Experimental Station of ICAR CIBA (MES), Tamil Nadu
