A major regional initiative titled “Livelihood Enhancement of the Small-scale Fish Farmers and Nutrition Security of Rural Masses in SAARC Region through Aquaculture Development”, acronymed AquaLivelihood, will be officially launched on 5th August 2025 at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

This India-led project, supported by the SAARC Development Fund (SDF), is being implemented by the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneswar, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. It brings together the expertise and participation of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, with strategic involvement from the SAARC Secretariat.

The launch event will be inaugurated by the Honourable Minister of Fisheries, Government of Sri Lanka, in the presence of high-level delegates from participating countries, Ambassadors of SAARC Member States in Colombo, officials from the SAARC Secretariat, and representatives of SDF.

Dr Shiba Shankar Giri, Head of the Fish Nutrition and Physiology Division, ICAR-CIFA, is serving as the Project Coordinator of AquaLivelihood. The project aims to enhance income opportunities and nutritional well-being of small-scale fish farmers in South Asia by promoting sustainable, science-based, and inclusive aquaculture practices tailored to local socio-ecological conditions.

A two-day Inception Workshop will follow the launch on 6th and 7th August 2025, wherein technical experts, country partners, and stakeholders will collaborate on implementation strategies, capacity development plans, and outcome-based monitoring frameworks.

This regional collaboration reflects India’s leadership in promoting sustainable food systems and rural development and is in harmony with the ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy of the Honourable Prime Minister of India. It also supports national and regional priorities on nutrition security, doubling farmers’ income, and blue economy growth.

The AquaLivelihood project is expected to play a catalytic role in transforming aquaculture livelihoods, strengthening regional cooperation, and contributing to the achievement of key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those on poverty reduction, food security, gender equality, and climate resilience.

Through this initiative, India reaffirms its commitment to inclusive growth, regional solidarity, and the use of agri-innovation for societal transformation in South Asia.

 

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Swadhin/PIB Bhubaneswar

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