Inauguration of Indo-US collaborative FTF-ITT programme in ICAR-CIFT, Cochin

'Unless the information and technologies developed in fisheries sector is transferred to needy people across the globe, the entire process of knowledge generation will remain futile’, said the Chief Guest Dr.P.Rajendran, Vice Chancellor, Kerala Agricultural university. While inaugurating the training programme on “Recent Trends in Harvest and Post- Harvest Technologies in Fisheries” at ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin he highlighted thatscope for growth in crop sector is almost achieved, but there exists tremendous potential for growth in fisheries and livestock sector. Fisheries is important sector as far as the economies of Kerala and India are considered. It contributes to 1% of total GDP of India supporting the livelihood security of more than 15 million people in the countrydirectly and indirectly. With an estimated 12 fold increase in export earnings from fishery sector during the last two decades, it need to be given proper attention forcreating employment generation opportunities. He also pointed about the importance of mobilizing Self Help Groups, Producers Organizations and Cooperatives for facilitating the socio economic development of the fisher folks

The fifteen-day training programme is the eleventh in the series of the ‘Feed the Future India Triangular Training (FTT-ITT) programme’, a triangular cooperation between India, US and Africa for adapting technological advances and innovative solutions to address Global Food Security. This Indo-US joint initiative is funded by USAID, India representing US Government and coordinated by National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management(MANAGE), Hyderabad under the aegis of Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India. Twenty-two executives representing 8 member countries viz., Afghanistan, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mongolia, Sudan and Uganda are participating.