The training on aquaponics is being taken up by the Department of Zoology, Manipur University in collaboration with Bharat Vikas Parishad to achieve sustainable livelihoods and income generation for small-scale fish farmers in the State, she said
TFM Desk
The sustainable practice of aquaponics in Manipur can supplement to fish farmers’ earnings and livelihoods through hands-hold learning and technology-driven practice system in the State, while conforming to the need-base contribution in addressing climate mitigation and adaptation measures at the local context, according to fishery scientist Dr Rameshori Yumnam of Manipur University.
Speaking on the occasion of the launch of a three-day training program (17-19 December) on “Entrepreneurship Development through Aquaponics” at the VC Court Hall of the University on Tuesday, Dr Rameshori informed that the training on aquaponics is being taken up by the Department of Zoology, Manipur University in collaboration with Bharat Vikas Parishad to achieve sustainable livelihoods and income generation for small-scale fish farmers in the State.
There is a need to intensify the capacity, and capability, of the small-scale fish farmers in the State to promote the restocking of native fish of food value to supplement on their livelihoods on the one hand while encouraging farmers to engage in sufficient supply of fish produce locally to do away with the dependency on outside States to meet the State’s full requirement of the fish produce.
The 3-days training and capacity building program, supported by the ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal, aims at molding 25 selected fish farmers of the State in a first phase of the program to install scientific temperament in rearing of native food fishes in order to achieve sustainable production of fish to meet the deficit in fish production currently in Manipur where people generally consume fish as favored and main diet.
Appreciating the effort of the University’s Department of Zoology in tying up with experts from the ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, Professor Naorem Lokendra Singh extolled that this was a right step in addressing the economic development of fish farmers in the State to promote fish production and encourage the economic independence of the marginal fish farmers in the State.
Stressing that the State is presently unable to meet its requirement of fish produce locally and has to import fish from outside the State to fill in the deficit, the vice-chancellor attending the launch function as the chief guest stated that it was rather ironic that the State has to depend on import of fish from outside to the State which has a large population of people whose main diet is fish. The effort to train fish farmers through aquaponics in a systematic manner to enhance fish productivity locally is the need of the hour, he said.
Dr Pramod Kumar Pandey, director ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, spoke on length on the necessity to study and work for rejuvenating the coldwater fish species in the Eastern Himalayan region to address several issues including ecosystem restoration, species diversity, and supplement to the needs of local people who essentially depend on the river systems for their sources of livelihoods and income, fish being a prime source of food and earnings.
The launch function was attended by former Vice-Chancellor of Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Professor M Premjit; Dean of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Professor Debananda Ningthoujam; Head of Botany Department, MU, Professor Kananbala Sarangthem as guests of honor, while Dr Pramod presided over the function.
As part of the launch function, a Handbook of Aquatic Microbiology was released by the dignitaries. Published by the CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, the handbook is edited by Dr Pramod Kumar Pandey, Sumanta Kumar Mallik and Dr Rameshori Yumnam.
The handbook covers different aspects of the aquatic environment, microbiology and microbial applications. Stressing that the world’s aquatic environment is facing serious threat from inappropriate planning, implementation and management, the book suggests strategies for managing the aquatic environment. Highlighting the role of microorganisms as pollution indicators, in bioremediation and as bio-control agents, the handbook focuses on impact of pollution on the microorganisms, biofilms, cyanobacterial blooms, and the metagenomics approach to isolate microbes.