ICAR-CIBA conducted an on-farm farmers’ interaction meet on “Adoption of brackishwater technologies as additional livelihood options for the scheduled caste and schedule tribe fishers” for the SC/ST farmer groups of Shahada Village of Odisha. Apart from SC/ST beneficiaries fish/shrimp farmers from nearby villages of the panchayat attended the meet held on 7th Aug 2024. Around 130 farmers participated including the selected beneficiaries under the scheme Schedule Caste/ Tribe Sub Plan to uplift the community through adoption of BWA technologies for fish/shrimp production activity using technology developed in ICAR-CIBA.
Dr. A. Panigrahi, Principal Scientist and Coordinator briefed about the earlier field demonstrations undertaken in the neighbourhood by ICAR-CIBA and the potential for the adoption of customised technologies intended for utilizing the community and natural resources. Dr. T. Ravisankar, Principal Scientist and Scientist-in-Charge, Social Science Division, guided the SC/ST farmers on the initiatives and programmes offered under the SCSP subplan. It was highlighted that the self-sustenance of the group should be promoted by regular savings by group from fish sales and ploughing back the part of the sale proceeds into productive activities so that the group is weaned away from dependence on government support. The leaders from the SC community Mr.Jagabandhu Bar and ST community Mr Krushna Chandra Tudu shared their experience and the income earned through the fish sales was distributed to the beneficiaries.
During the occasion the participants witnessed the partial harvest of the milk fish and mullet, given hands-on training in measuring the water quality, grading the seabass seeds in hapas and distributed inputs like water quality kits. Training ended with valedictory session addressed by Mr Anjan Dandapat, progressive farmer who highlighted importance of harmony and highlighted the management of group conflicts among the group members and delivered the vote of thanks.
