26 February 2026, Assam
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore and the Project Management Unit and Project Implementation Unit of the Asian Development Bank -financed Assam Sustainable Wetlands and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project today.
As per the MoU, ICAR-CIFRI will provide technical services on ‘Sustainable Development and Management of Beel Fisheries including Enhancement of Fish Production and Productivity’ in Assam. The project will be implemented over a period of 24 months with a total budget outlay of ₹2.88 crore.
On behalf of ICAR-CIFRI, the MoU was signed by Dr. Basanta Kumar Das, ARS, Director, ICAR-CIFRI. Representing the PMU, SWIFT, the signatory was Virendra Mittal, IAS, State Project Director, ARIAS Society, Assam, while Gauri Shankar Das, ACS, Director of Fisheries, Assam, signed on behalf of the PIU, SWIFT.
The MoU was signed in the august presence of Sunae Kim, ADB Project Team Leader, and Ji Seon Kim, ADB Team Member, along with senior officials from ADB, ICAR-CIFRI, ARIAS Society, Assam, and members of the ADB-SWIFT project team.
Scope and Objectives
Under the agreement, ICAR-CIFRI will undertake a comprehensive set of activities aimed at strengthening sustainable wetland fisheries management in Assam. The scope of work includes:
Strengthening the capacity of the Department of Fisheries (DoF) to deliver technically sound advisory services promoting sustainable beel ecosystem management, with emphasis on sustainable fisheries and improved production practices.
Building the capacity of community-based Beel Development Committees (BDCs) to implement sustainable fisheries production and ecosystem management practices.
Conducting scientific research to enhance beel fisheries productivity, including routine and scientifically rigorous monitoring of fisheries production across project beels.
Integrating research-based methodologies to assess ecological health, productivity trends, and sustainability indicators.
Key Activities
The major activities to be undertaken by ICAR-CIFRI include:
Monitoring of water quality parameters in beels (wetlands).
Recommending science-based strategies and guidelines for enhancing fish production.
Conservation and production enhancement of small indigenous fish species.
Biodiversity monitoring and ecosystem health assessment.
A total of 100 beels across Assam will be covered under the project.
The collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening sustainable wetland fisheries management and improving livelihoods through science-driven interventions in Assam.
(Source: ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore)
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