International Training at CIFT, Cochin

ICAR-Central Institute of  Fisheries Technology, Cochin has conducted a collaborative International training course on “Fish Processing, Quality control, and HACCP” during 20-26 October, 2014.  This training course was sponsored by SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh and  12 participants from different SAARC countries viz. Bangladesh, Bhutan, SriLanka, Maldives and India had attended the training.

Ms. Leena Nair, IAS, Chairman, MPEDA has formally inaugurated the training course on 20 October and Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Director, CIFT  presided over the function.  Dr. Md. Nure Alam Siddiky, Senior Programme Officer (Livestock), SAC, Dhaka, Bangladesh addressed the audience as the Chief Guest.

The training programme covered important and emerging technologies and issues of post-harvest fisheries management. The course included different aspects of post-harvest technologies such as advancements in post-harvest technology and value addition of fish and shellfish, pilot scale production of coated fishery products and chilled fish products, testing of packaging materials, pilot scale production of canned products, fish packaging technologies, hands on sessions on emerging technologies like HPP and Pulse Light preservation. Relevant hands on training sessions were conducted besides the visit to the pilot scale facilities for fish processing and value addition. The participants were also trained on the preparation of silage and silage based feed formulations   and demonstrations on preparation of fish silage and feed were also conducted. 

On quality control subjects, the training covered detailed sessions on Fish quality assurance, Chemical, physical and biological hazards and panel discussions, Standard sanitary operation procedures (SSOP), HACCP, Hazard analysis and HACCP Plan form.  A faculty from industry Shri Satyan, Manager, Mangala Seafoods, Aroor, also took classes during the Industrial visit.  The candidates were apprised about  the requirements for marine products exporting units.

As per SAARC hospitality norms, the concerned Institutions/organizations of the SAARC countries had sponsored the candidates by incurring the to and fro air tickets and incidental charges, whereas the local hospitality including accommodation, food, training cost and local transport were provided by the SAARC.  Besides the Course Director, there were three Course Co-Directors/concerned HODs, and three Coordinators for conducting the training.

Due to the field visit on 26 October, 2014, the valedictory session of the training was conducted  in advance on 25 October, and the  certificates were distributed to the participants by Dr.C.N.Ravishankar, Director,CIFT.

Inauguration of the programme                                        Practical training in progress