Farmers’ training programme on Integrated Fish Farming Techniques Organised by ICAR RCER, Patna

20-23 March 2026, Patna

ICAR Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna, organised a four-day training program on Improvement of rural livelihood through integrated fish farming techniques from 20 - 23 March, 2026. The program aimed to enhance the capacity and entrepreneurship in the field of fisheries among the farmers. It also focused on promoting scientific fish farming and adapting integrated fish farming techniques for better resource management and income diversification. The training program is sponsored by the Department of Fisheries, Government of Bihar.

Dr Anup Das, Director, ICAR RCER, Patna while interacting with farmers emphasized that fish-based Integrated Farming System involving intensification of pond dyke through fruit trees such as mango, guava, and lemon, vertical farming through dolichos beans and cucurbits (Bottlegourds, cucumber etc) along the pond dykes, and livestock integration, will not only diversify farming system and reduce farmer risks against climate change induced vulnerabilities but also ensure year round income, nutrition, and employment. He also suggested farmers to adopt at least one high-value component such as spawn production, planting materials production or mushroom cultivation in the IFS system to enhance their income substantially.

The program comprised an interactive session with farmers on pond preparation, fish species selection, pond management, fish breeding, spawn rearing, fry management, and fingerling production. It also featured practical and hands-on sessions on water quality management, fish species identification, spawn production and feed preparation. As part of the capacity-building program, farmers were advised to adopt livestock–fish integrated farming systems, and integration of horticulture, in IFS for enhancing farmer income, nutrition, and promoting climate resilience. During the interaction, farmers raised several key issues, including the lack of quality fish seeds, high cost of fish feeds, and inadequate diagnostic tools or health management facilities, which lead to reduced pond production and farmers income.

Dr Tun Tun Singh, ADF, Government of Bihar spoke about different Government policies and schemes for promoting fish farming and emphasised on the importance of fish + Makhana integrated farming as viable enterprise.

During the programme the farmers were encouraged to adopt Fish Based IFS through efficient on-farm resource recycling to reduce dependence on external resources and make fish farming a viable enterprise.

A total of 30 farmers from the Araria district of Bihar participated in the training.

(Source: ICAR-Research Complex for Eastern Region, Patna)