Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi visited Shrimp Farms at Lahli village, Rohtak and Regional Centre of ICAR-CIFE, Rohtak, Haryana today. During his visit at the farm facilities of ICAR-CIFE, Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi interacted with Shrimp farmers of Haryana to understand the grass root level problems being faced by the saline water shrimp farmers. The Union Secretary also distributed pedigreed common carp seed produced by the Centre under NAHEP scheme to the selected farmers.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi emphasized on future plan for conversion of waste land to wealth through aquafarming.  It was informed by the Scientists of ICAR-CIFE during his visit, that salinization of groundwater in inland states of the country has created major economic, social and environmental consequences, affecting around 8.62 million hectares of land mainly in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Saline ground water could be economically viable through aquaculture practices in which a large proportion of water could be evapo-transpired from aquaculture ponds and produce income generating fish/prawn/shrimp crops.

At present 8554.15 MT per annum of shrimp is produced from 2167 hectare of Saline water aquaculture from four north Indian states namely Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan & UP. These four States have 58000 hectare area suitable for saline water aquaculture. Therefore, the inland saline areas of these four states have ample scope for culture of shrimp and fish farming. In order to promote species diversification in saline water aquaculture in these areas, the Department of Fisheries has approved a project under PMMSY to CIFE, Rohtak for Genetic Improvement of Common Carp Cyprinus carpio for Inland Saline Aquaculture at a total cost of Rs. 9.29 Crore.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary also reviewed the activities carried out by ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Rohtak including the genetic improvement programme of common carp supported under PMMSY. Dr. S. Jaageerdar, Principal Scientist, ICAR briefed on various activities and projects being under taken by ICAR-CIFE, Rohtak Centre. Dr Babita Rani, Senior Scientist & Scientist in-Charge of CIFE, Rohtak Centre made a detailed presentation on the research activities being undertaken at the Centre. Scientist in-Charge of CIFE, Rohtak informed that ICAR- CIFE, Rohtak centre, has developed technology for fortifying deficient ions in inland saline water and making it suitable for shrimp and other species of aquaculture with support of Department of Fisheries, GoI. It was informed by the In-Charge of CIFE, Rohtak that the technology has been extended to 2942 acres in Haryana, 1200 acres in Punjab, 1000 acres in Rajasthan and 20-25 acres in Uttar Pradesh up to 22-23. The area of production in Haryana has increased by another 1200 acre this year.

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi congratulated the Scientists of ICAR-CIFE for development of the technology for fortifying deficient ions in the inland saline water and to make it suitable for shrimp farming.  He emphasized on creating more awareness to absorb this technology in Haryana, UP, Rajasthan and Punjab. He also highlighted that it is the need of the hour to adopt shrimp farming with the technology developed by ICAR –CIFE in all four States which have approx. 58,000 hectare area suitable for saline water aquaculture against present utilisation of only 2,167 hectare which gives 8,554.15 MT per annum. The Union Secretary informed that Government of India aims to harness full potential of 58000 hectare area of these four states to help in doubling of income of fish farmers.

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