ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai, implemented interventions on “Community fish farming integrated with agro-based farming involving SC and ST communities” under the Scheduled Tribal Component (STC). Ten Irular tribal families of Laximipuram, Kattur Village, Minjur Taluk, Tiruvallur district were involved in this demonstration. Milkfish farming in pond and pens, seabass nursery rearing in hapas and cages, crab farming in pen and boxes were taken up in the common brackishwater resources available in the village. A harvesting programme was held wherein the beneficiaries’ harvested the seabass fish stock on 8th July 2023 and showed the production to the fellow villagers. Mr. K.G. Selvaraman, Panchayat President, Kattur Panchyat, Mr. Thiyagarajan, ward councilor and ST beneficiaries participated in this programme. About 85 kg fish production comprised of 350 seabass fishes with a weight ranged between 380 -1100gm was harvested. The fishes were sold at an average price of Rs.330/-kg. A sum of Rs. 28,000/- was realized as income from the sales. This sales amount was deposited in the beneficiary’s bank account. The beneficiaries spent their lean hours for this income generation activity. This is one of the sustainable livelihood model demonstrated for the beneficiaries. Dr. B. Shanthi and Dr. Senthil Murugan, Principal Scientists of ICAR-CIBA implemented the interventions and capacity building of tribal families.
