Navsari Gujarat Research Centre of ICAR-CIBA, Navsari, Gujarat implemented an Integrated Aqua-Agri-Poultry-Goat Farming Unit at Sultanpur Village in Navsari District, on 23rd August, 2024 under the Scheduled Tribe Component (STC) for coastal tribal communities. The unit was formally inaugurated by Dr. Z. P. Patel, Vice Chancellor, Navsari Agricultiural University in the presence of Dr. Kuldeep Lal, Director ICAR-CIBA, Chennai and Dr. S. R. Chaudhary, Principal, College of Fisheries, Navsari. An interaction meet on livelihood opportunities for tribal communities was also conducted along with the event in the presence of scientists from ICAR-CIBA, subject matter specialists from KVK, Navsari and Livestock Research Station, Kamdhenu University. The inauguration cum interaction meet was attended by more than 150 tribal beneficiaries from Sultanpur, Eroo, Abrama and Singod villages of Navsari. The integrated unit is spread over a total area of 1.5 ha with a brackishwater pond of water spread area 1.0 ha and the dike area houses poultry and goat rearing sheds and horticulture activities. The unit encompasses nursery and grow out farming of high value brackishwater finfish and mud crab box culture along with animal husbandry and horticulture.
The tribal self help group viz., Sultanpur Halpati Matsya Mandal were trained during March, 2024 and activities were initiated during April, 2024. Inputs such as fish seed, feed, safety equipments, mango sapling and goats were distributed to the SHG during the event. The group also received a cheque for Rs. 1.06 Lakhs during the event against sale of milkfish fingerlings and poultry within a short period of 3 months post intervention. ICAR-CIBA waste to wealth products viz., CIBA-Plankton plus and CIBA-Horti plus were distributed to the beneficiaries for promotion of natural farming and the products were also showcased to the staff of KVK, Navsari and Navsari Agricultural University for collaborative research on natural farming. Dr. A.K. Shah, Head and Senior Scientist KVK Navsari, Dr. Akshaya Panigrahi, OIC, NGRC of ICAR-CIBA and Dr. P. Mahalakshmi, Nodal Officer, STC & SC SP, ICAR-CIBA addressed the gathering and details the activities taken up by the institute. Mr. Pankaj Patil, PI, STC project Navsari, detailed the various components of the integrated model and livelihood opportunities of the technology. The integrated farming model was first successfully demonstrated in the tribal village of Singod during 2021-24 resulting in a total revenue of 29.30 lakhs and tribal SHG is currently self-reliant. A cheque for Rs. 3.95 lakhs was distributed to the tribal SHG Singod Halpati Samaj Yuva Matsya Udyog Juth against sale of table sized fish and poultry during the current financial year. The program was coordinated by Mr. Pankaj A Patil, Dr. Ritesh Tandel, Dr. Pragyan Dash and Mr. Jose Antony, Scientists, NGRC of ICAR-CIBA.
