Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary (Fisheries), Reviews DoF-Funded R&D Programmes at ICAR–CIBA, Chennai

19 January 2026, Chennai

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of India, visited the ICAR–Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai, along with its Experimental Stations at Muttukadu and Kovalam, to review DoF-funded research and development programmes and to interact with scientists and stakeholders.

During the visit, the Secretary inspected the facilities of the Indian White Shrimp (Penaeus indicus) Genetic Improvement Programme being implemented by ICAR–CIBA under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). The programme, with a total outlay of ₹25.04 crore, aims to strengthen scientific shrimp breeding in India through the development of genetically improved stocks of Indian white shrimp.

Dr. Likhi also reviewed another DoF-funded project titled “New Age Shrimp System for Precise Use of Land, Water and Feed”, approved at a cost of ₹2.21 crore, which focuses on promoting climate-smart and resource-efficient shrimp farming models. He further inspected key research and infrastructure facilities, including finfish, crustacean, ornamental fish and crab hatchery units, as well as the institute’s feed mill.

Subsequently, the Secretary chaired a hybrid interaction meeting with officials from coastal States and Union Territories, including Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, where shrimp farming is practised in saline soils. Shrimp farmers and entrepreneurs participated in the interaction and shared their success stories, best practices, and challenges across production, processing and marketing stages.

During the meeting, Dr. J.K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries), ICAR, and Shri Sagar Mehra, Joint Secretary (Inland), DoF, Government of India, shared their perspectives on upscaling ICAR–CIBA technologies with the support of the Department of Fisheries. Dr. K.K. Lal, Director, ICAR–CIBA, made a detailed presentation highlighting the institute’s major research achievements.

On the occasion, two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in the presence of the Secretary, DoF:

A MoU between ICAR–CIBA and M/s Selle Hatchery Tech, Marakkanam, for the commercialisation of India’s first indigenous shrimp larval feed.

A MoU between ICAR–CIBA and M/s BRC Marine Products, Odisha, for the use of rice-based Rice Distillers’ Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) as an affordable and sustainable protein source in shrimp feed for Penaeus vannamei.

In his address, Dr. Likhi appreciated ICAR–CIBA’s significant contributions to national aquaculture development and underscored the need for coordinated efforts among research institutions, industry partners and State governments to ensure timely and effective transfer of innovations to farmers. He also emphasised that ICAR–CIBA should extend its technology backstopping support to the fisheries clusters supported by the DoF, particularly in the area of brackishwater aquaculture.

(Source: ICAR- Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Chennai)