Shri. Jatindra Nath Swain, IAS, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of India visited ICAR-CIFT accompanied by Dr. J Balaji, IAS, Joint Secretary, Marine Fisheries, GOI along with Secretary (Fisheries), Govt. of Kerala Smt. Tinku Biswal, IAS and Director (Fisheries), Govt. of Kerala Smt. Girija. At the outset, Dr. C N Ravishankar, Director, CIFT appraised the secretary and other visiting officials about CIFT’s contributions in the harvest and post-harvest fisheries and the technological innovations of CIFT for the growth of blue economy, especially, how the CIFT design fishing boats acts as a trailblazer for the development of deep sea fishing boats in entire marine states of India. Later the dignitaries took around the CIFT referral and reference lab, Pilot plants and various laboratories and interacted with scientists of CIFT about the research and developmental works of the institute in the context of the achieving the envisioned target of GOI flagship programmes like PMMSY, PM-FME, SCSP, TSP etc. that may give a momentum to the sector in providing livelihood security to millions of the stakeholders. 

Applauding the yeoman service of the institute, the Secretary, Fisheries urged the scientists to set a target for the welfare of the fishermen and fish farmers, while developing technological innovations. Emphasizing the country’s challenge for increasing fish production and export growth and doubling of fisher’s income compromising with the resources sustainability approaches, he stated that Indian fishery, which is in a state of crisis, demands disruptive innovations to make the sector a viable and sustainable source of development. Hence, scientists should think rationally, methodically and diligently to translate the research into action.

During the visit, the Secretary, Fisheries, GOI handed over one unit CIFT fish vending kiosk, ‘ChillFish’ to a Kumbalangi based Kudumbasree unit ‘Flower‘ as part of CSR programme of the Cochin Shipyard Limited. Under CSR initiative of the Cochin Shipyard Limited, a total of 26 fish vending kiosks have been supplied to fisherwomen groups across Kerala who were identified with the help of Society for Assistance to Fisherwomen (SAF), an agency under the aegis of Department of Fisheries, Government of Kerala. In addition, two units of ‘fish waste to fish feeds conversion machineries’ were handed over to KVK, Kottayam and Lakshadweep for the community use.  Shri. AK Chaudhary, Director, CIFNET. Dr. Jai Singh Meena, Director, NIFHATT, Dr. Sijo P Varghese, Zonal Director, FSI and Shri. Sampath Kumar P N, AGM, CSR, Cochin Shipyard were also present on the occasion.