Capacity Building of Hill Farmers for Ornamental fish farming: A new initiative of ICAR-CIFRI

28^th April – 1^st May 2023, Darjeeling

Ornamental fish farming is a promising venture for upscaling rural livelihood. Rural people especially the women involved in this farming system due to its easier cultural practice and less space requirement, even the backyard can be used for a perfect cultural site. Through PMSSY, it can be helpful to enhance the socio-economic condition of people and eventually for the development of a better nation.

With the vision of upscaling the socio-economic condition of rural hill communities, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore is promoting ornamental fish farming for strengthening their livelihood.

Continuing this initiative, ICAR - CIFRI has conducted a training programme on “Inland ornamental fisheries management for income generation & livelihood enhancement in Hilly region” from 28^th April to 1^st May 2023.

More than 26 persons including 8 females from Sittong, Manju Gaon, and Mongu of Darjeeling district have participated.

Each farmer has been distributed inputs of ornamental fish tanks, feed, aerators, and other implements as a start-up to carry out ornamental fish farming in the hilly region.

This initiative is the first of its kind in the hilly region of the country for SC & ST farmers.

Before this training, a mass awareness programme and field demonstration have been conducted in different parts of Darjeeling to sensitize the villagers about ornamental fish farming techniques, and 120 ornamental culture unit have distributed.

This 4-day long training course has been designed as per the need of the villagers including hands-on training, classroom teaching, and visit to the ornamental fish market. They were trained on aquarium making and aquascaping, low-cost artificial feed preparation, common livebearers and egg layers’ ornamental fishes and their breeding, maintenance, and monitoring of ornamental units, etc.

A local visit to the Gallif Street market was arranged to witness the ornamental fish trade, the market condition, pricing, and other accessories used in this culture practice.

In the valedictory session, Dr. B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI urged the people to continue this fish farming on a mission mode approach on a cluster basis and assure CIFRI’s support for them.

(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)