Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR CIFT)

TSP Training cum Demonstration at Adava

The ICAR-CIFT Visakhapatnam Research Centre conducted a training cum demonstration under TSP in at Adava, Harbhangi Reservoir, Gajapati, Odisha in collaboration, Department of Fisheries, Government of Odisha during 20- 22 January, 2016. The Harbhangi Reservoir is located at Latitude 19’30’30” N and Longitude 84’08’00” N with a catchment area of 503.80 sq.km, having a maximum of 1736.00mm and minimum of 602.5mm rain fall with an average rainfall of 1223.30mm. The formation of reservoir resulted in submerging a total of six villages of which four were fully submerged and two were partially submerged and this led to dislocation of 226 families of ST groups for whom one of the major avocations is harvesting fish from the reservoir. This made the reservoir and the location most suited to conduct TSP TCD by ICAR-CIFT Visakhapatnam Research Centre.

On first day on 20 January, 2016 the registration of the participants was taken up which was followed by inaugural session that started with lighting traditional lamp, prayer and welcome address by Shri H.K. Das, District Fisheries Officer cum CEO, FFDA, Paralakhemundi, Gajapati. Shri Das stressed on the importance of training cum demonstration programmes for the development of awareness among tribal fishers on hygienic handling of fish during harvest and post harvest periods. Dr. G. Rajeswari PS and SIC of ICAR-CIFT Visakhapatnam Research Centre told the trainees that sustainable development of reservoir fisheries is possible only when the fishers use eco-friendly fishing gear with appropriate mesh size and the fishing craft such as FRP coated kind for longer duration utility with minimum maintenance costs. In the inaugural address Dr. M.M. Prasad, Principal Scientist and Nodal Officer NEH &TSP programmes dealt on role of ICAR in catering the food and nutritional security needs of hinterland residents mainly fishers belonging to ST Groups and also of ICAR-CIFT that gives significant emphasis in developing appropriate technologies suiting rural conditions such as foldable fish traps for harvesting fish, design and fabrication of eco-friendly fishing gears and employment of insulated fish bags for transportation of fish from the reservoir to the points of sale to ensure quality and better price realization. Dr. K.K. Asha, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFT, Kochi impressed the participants on the role of fish in nutrition, child development and also to teenagers. She told that fish soup powder is specially developed at ICAR-CIFT keeping in mind the needs of people residing in remote areas. Shri B. Pradhan, ACTO translated the talks from English/Hindi to local colloquial Odiya for better communication. The inaugural programme came to an end with vote of thank from Shri K.K. Pradhan, AFO, Department of Fisheries, Government of Odisha.

During the three days programme lectures were delivered on importance of fish as food, hygienic handling of fish at different stages right from harvest to post harvest, product development, storage till it reaches the consumer/plate; reasons for spoilage of fish and the measures to control the same, preparation of different value added fish products namely fish pickle, fish cutlet, fish pakoda and uses of eco-friendly fishing gears.

ICAR-CIFT technology based products and their acceptability

Fish soup powder and nutraceutical drink based on seaweed-grape Juice developed at ICAR-CIFT were demonstrated and were screened for sensory evaluation among trainees and other local residents totaling 104 respondents. Fish soup is accepted by 100% of the respondents with suggestions to include addition of local flavours such as green chillies, condiments etc.

Field demonstration of foldable fish traps

The foldable fish traps were tested at Harbhangi reservoir with three different kinds of baits namely chicken offal, fish and coconut. While no fish is seen with chicken offalbait, four Labeo calbasu fish of above ~400g each was caught with fish meat as bait and crabs were seen in foldable traps with coconut as bait.

Visit of Ms Mansi Nimbhal, IAS, District Collector Gajapati

On the final day of training programme Gajapati District Collector Ms Mansi Nimbhal, IAS visited the venue and chaired the Plenary Session. In her address Ms Mansi Nimbhal told the trainees that they should take maximum advantage of the facilities provided by the government in different forms that comprise organizing training cum demonstrations by research institutes like ICAR-CIFT for the benefit of tribal fishers and all inputs are being provided in the form of Micro-fish Value Added Product Preparation Facility completely on gratis. The Chief Guest also went through the various technologies developed at ICAR-CIFT for the benefit of tribal fishers. At the end of the session foldable fish traps, gillnets for eco-friendly drive in harvesting fish from the reservoir and more than 20 items related to post harvest handling of fish and value added fish product preparation were distributed. In the feedback trainees desired more number of traps and one more training on fabrication of foldable fish traps.

Field exposure visit to Harbhangi reservoir

Ms Mansi also undertook a field exposure visit to Harbhangi Reservoir with resource persons and trainees to gain insight into the lives of tribal fishers. Dr. M.M. Prasad explained to Chief Guest different aspects of harvest and post harvest of reservoir fisheries. One important observation made during the field visit is quality of the edible meat portion of Pangasius that are being reared in the cages of Harbhangi Reservoir. It is free from any discolouration. Ms Mansi thanked ICAR-CIFT for organizing the TCD and requested for more technological assistance in post harvest fisheries development in Gajapati District.

The programme benefited a total 90 tribal fishers that included women fishers too.