Vikas Kumar
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 May 2025
A three-day training programme on Shrimp and Mud Crab Farming, jointly organized by the Department of Fisheries, Andaman & Nicobar Administration, and the ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA), Chennai, concluded successfully on 23rd May 2025 at the Fisheries Training Centre, Marine Hill.
The programme saw the participation of 25 selected fishermen, fish farmers, and stakeholders from South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman. The valedictory session was graced by Mr. Ravinder Kumar, Director of Fisheries (In-Charge), who served as the chief guest.
In his address, Mr. Kumar commended the ICAR-CIBA team for their dedicated efforts in organizing the training. He emphasized the significance of such capacity-building programmes in promoting sustainable aquaculture practices in the Islands. Encouraging the participants to make the most of Government schemes under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), he highlighted the commercial potential of species like shrimp, mud crab, mullets, milkfish, and seabass. He also stressed the need for advanced training modules to deepen the participants’ understanding of brackishwater aquaculture.
Dr. K. Ambasankar of ICAR-CIBA addressed the challenge of limited availability of private land for brackishwater aquaculture in the Islands. He informed attendees that the Department of Fisheries, with technical support from ICAR-CIBA, is actively working to facilitate brackishwater land leases to boost aquaculture expansion.
Dr. A. Panigrahi, Principal Scientist, expressed his appreciation to the Directorate of Fisheries for the opportunity to engage with local fishers. He underscored the value of small-scale pilot projects as a means to catalyze broader aquaculture development across the Islands.
Participants expressed enthusiasm for the training, noting that it had inspired them to explore opportunities in mud crab fattening and shrimp farming. They also called for additional hands-on training sessions to further enhance their practical skills.
Led by a team of experienced ICAR-CIBA scientists, the programme included a field visit to the shrimp farm at Mannarghat and the crab fattening unit at Wandoor, offering participants direct exposure to sustainable aquaculture practices.
Certificates were distributed to all participants during the closing ceremony by the Director of Fisheries. Mr. G. Amalatheeban, Assistant Director of Fisheries (South Andaman), also addressed the gathering. The session concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr. Soumyadip Paul, AFDO, Department of Fisheries.