On the occasion of the celebration of World Soil Day, ICAR-CIBA organised Brackishwater Aquaculture Farmers’ Meet and Harvest Mela at Kakdwip Research Centre of CIBA on 5th December, 2022. KRC of CIBA demonstrated the scientific farming of shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) with cost-effective feed and exhibited the harvested shrimp production among the aqua farmers and stakeholders in its farm at Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas District of West Bengal. Shri Bankim Chandra Hazra, Hon’ble Minister of Sundarban Affairs, Govt. of West Bengal was the chief guest of the programme and inaugurated the farmer’s meet. During the meeting, 212 nos. of Soil and Water Health Cards were distributed to brackishwater aquaculture farmers and released the publication on integrated brackiswater aquaculture technology. The minister also launched the Aquaculture Insurance product for shrimp farms. About 250 participants comprised of aqua farmers from Namkhana, Pathar Pratima and Kakdwip, bankers, young entrepreneurs, women SHG’s and state government officials attended the meeting. The minister appreciated the activities of ICAR-CIBA in the state and asked the farmers to follow scientific culture technologies developed by ICAR-CIBA for the development of brackishwater aquaculture in the region. Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director, CIBA highlighted the necessity of dissemination of location-specific technologies developed by ICAR-CIBA to the farmers in West Bengal. Dr. Debasis De, Officer-in-Charge, KRC-CIBA briefed the research activities of the center and its importance for the eastern region of the country. Dr. M. Muralidhar, Principal scientist & SIC, Environment Section briefed on the importance of soil and water quality in aquaculture and the initiation of Soil and Water Health Card scheme by the institute. Dr. T. Ravisankar, Principal Scientist explained in detail the insurance policy initiated by CIBA in association with Oriental Insurance Company Ltd. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. T.K.Ghoshal, Principal Scientist, KRC.
