HAWAI, 22 Dec: Eighty farmers and farmwomen from different SHGs participated in a training programme on fish farming, organised here by the Anjaw KVK on 21 December, under the Tribal Sub-Plan, to promote fish farming in the district.
During the programme, which was organised in collaboration with the ICAR’s Leparada-based regional centre (RC) and Umiam (Meghalaya)-based regional office (RO), ICAR HR Head Dr Homeshwor Kalita said that “the programme is being conducted not only for promotion of fish farming but also for enhancement of the tribal farmers’ income and employment generation.”
“As the district is fully dependent on cultivation of seasonal crops and cash crops, importance should be given to the scientific package and practice of crop cultivation,” he added.
ICAR Umiam Head Dr Samarendra Hazarika said that “the project is especially supported by the government of India for the development of tribal farmers in the entire Northeast region of India, so as to promote agriculture and allied sectors, such as agriculture and horticulture crops, fisheries, livestock, etc.”
He underscored the role of the KVK in dissemination of agricultural technology to the un-reached locations of the district.
ICAR Umiam’s Animal & Fishery Sciences Head Dr SK Das spoke about cultivation of different fish breeds in the hilly areas, and their breeding process.
He said that hands-on training would be imparted to the fish rearing farmers of the district “for capacity building and production of fish spawn, so as to remain self-dependent from the neighbouring states.”
Later, spawns of different fish breeds, such as rohu, mhrigal, common carp, kurri, grass carp, etc, were distributed and released in the farmers’ ponds.