ICAR–CIFT, Cochin conducts Inception Workshop of FAO Project
The Fishing Technology Division of ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin has initiated a project on “Assessment of food loss from selected gillnet and trammel net fisheries of India” funded by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Integrated Coastal Management, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh a non-governmental organization working with fishing communities is also collaborating in the project. The Inception Workshop of the project was held on 4th January, 2017 at ICAR-CIFT, Cochin. Shri Shyam Bahadur Khadka, FAO representative of India inaugurated the programme and Dr. Yugraj Singh Yadava, Director, Bay of Bengal Programme – Inter Governmental Organization (BOBP-IGO) was the Guest of Honour. In inaugural address Mr. Khadka highlighted the global significance of the project. According to him, food loss has to be assessed based on three aspects such as increasing human population and wastage of food and dwindling marine fisheries resources and energy loss due unsustainable practices in fishing. Dr. Yadava mentioned about the global scenario of fisheries production and need for assessing biodiversity loss during fishing operations. The workshop was intended to fine tune the methodologies of the project by incorporating suggestions received during the brain storming session of the workshop. The meeting was presided over by Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Director, ICAR-CIFT and Dr. P. Pravin, Assistant Director General, Marine Fisheries, ICAR offered felicitations. Dr. Leela Edwin, Head, Fishing Technology Division welcomed the gathering and Dr. Saly N. Thomas, Principal Scientist and Principal Investigator of the Project proposed vote of thanks. Delegates including representatives of State Fisheries Departments, governmental and non-governmental organizations, research institutions and fisher groups participated in the workshop.
The inaugural function was followed by the technical session which started with familiarization of the project to the participants by Dr. Saly N. Thomas, Principal Investigator of the project. She discussed in detail about the project background, scope, objectives and wok plan. Shri Venkatesh Salagrama, Director, Integrated Coastal Management – the participating agency of the project, discussed the socio-economical aspect of the project. He suggested that implementation of the project should be done with proper care to avoid ‘sensationalism’ to ensure clear policy responses without necessarily providing a new stick to beat the SSF communities. Dr. E. Vivekanandan, Former Head, Demersal Fisheries Division, ICAR-CMFRI, Cochin and Advisor of the project described about the expected project outcome.
In the afternoon session, there was group brainstorming in which the delegates discussed on the project objectives, methodology and knowledge management. Dr. Y.S. Yadava, was the moderator of the working group session and the workshop was concluded by Dr. Yadava by summing up the points emulated from the discussion.
Shri Shyam Bahadur Khadka delivering the inaugural address
Brain storming session in progress
