Krishi Darpan-2013

Under the NAIP sub project, “Mobilizing mass media support for sharing agro- information”, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin organized a one day Technology Expo cum Farmers’ Mela “Krishi Darpan -2013” at North Paravur, Ernakulam on 27 March, 2013.

Adv. V.D. Satheesan, MLA, North Paravur inaugurated the Mela and Dr. T.K. Srinivasa Gopal, Director, CIFT presided over the function. Dr. S. Ashaletha, Senior Scientist & Project Leader of CIFT welcomed the guests. Shri Salim Kumar, National award winning Malayalam Cine Artist, officially released the music video album, “Kaanaakkattu”, produced under the Mass Media project. The main focus of the song was the process of empowerment of coastal women taking place in Kerala through technology interventions of another NAIP project, “Responsible harvesting and utilization of selected small pelagic and freshwater fishes”. Shri Salim Kumar appreciated the efforts being done under the project for dissemination of technological information to the farmers and addressed the issues and problems of the fish farmers. Smt. Sathyavathy, Deputy Director, Fisheries and Shri V.N.  Vijayan, Asst. Manager, Farm Information Bureau (FIB) offered felicitations. Dr. S  Balasubrahmaniam, HOD,  EIS, CIFT proposed vote of thanks.  

During the programme, CIFT, NIFPHAT, KVK, MATSYAFED, Kerala State Coastal Area Development Corporation (KSCADC), Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), Vegetable and Fruit Promotion Council Kerala (VFPCK), Farm Information Bureau (FIB), NGOs and Self-Help Groups who offer technology support for the farming community participated and exhibited their technologies in separate stalls. Value added products commercialized by rural industries under another NAIP project on Pelagic fish value chain of CIFT were also displayed.

The panel discussions arranged for scientist-farmer interaction provided a unique opportunity to the farmers for clarification of their doubts and for the institutions to propagate their technologies and services. The main areas covered in the panel discussion on fisheries were: 1). Needs and measures for conserving fishery - Dr. V.R. Madhu, CIFT,    2). Resources, scope and issues in fish processing sector - Dr. A. A. Zynudheen, CIFT,    3). Necessity and method for maintaining quality and hygiene - Dr. Femeena Hassan, CIFT,  4). Revolution in fishing crafts  and engines - Problems and prospects - Shri M. Nasser, CIFT, and 5) Transfer of new technologies - Means and measures - Dr. S. Ashaletha, CIFT. State level experts on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and fisheries viz. Shri Vikas, Dr. Smitha, Shri Suresh of  Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Njarakkal and Shri Vijayan (Asst. Director of Agriculture) participated in the afternoon session as experts.

More than 200 farmers attended the exhibition and got benefited by new technologies in agriculture and new thoughts for improving their business. At the end of the exhibition vegetable seeds and seedlings were distributed to farmers for promoting homestead vegetable gardens.