The ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture organized the In-Plant internship training (IPT) for the outgoing B.F.Sc students of Dr.M.G.R., Fisheries College & Research Institute (Tamil Nadu Dr.J.Jayalalithaa Fisheries University), Ponneri, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu from 03rd January th to 09th March, 2025. This internship is part of their B.F.Sc course curriculum and part of the Prime Minister’s Student Ready Programme. Ten students were given in-depth IPT at the Muttukadu Experimental Station of ICAR-CIBA, to learn the complete crop cycle of shrimp and fin fish farming including conduction of yard experiments on the principle of ‘learning by doing’. The objective of their programme is to make the training a pedagogical tool to achieve the learning outcomes and emerge as Industry–ready equipped graduates to serve the sector and society. The students were trained on the standard operating procedures of shrimp, crab and finfish seed production, feed formulation and making the feed at our feed mill, live feed culture, soil and water quality parameters and their measurement, laboratory, disease diagnosis for aquatic fish/shrimp health, technology dissemination, adoption, socio-economic appraisal and impact assessment of the technologies. The students were given exposure on livelihood development through cage farming operations in Kottaikadu village, Chengalpattu district and technology delivery mechanisms through CIBA mobile applications, aquaculture insurance products for risk management in shrimp farming exhibiting the R & D strength of the Institute in providing technological backstopping to the sector.
In the valedictory session, the students presented their views and feedback about the programme and opined that the programme gave them the practical exposure to them in addition to capacity enhancement. Dr.Kuldeep K Lal, Director, ICAR-CIBA appreciated the students for taking interest in the training and further translating the skills to the field. He also emphasized about the opportunities available as start-ups to transform as an aquapreneur. The Director, handed-over the participation certificates to the students. Dr(Mrs) D.Deboral Vimala, Principal Scientist, Social Sciences Division co-ordinated this programme with the support of all the subject matter divisions. Dr.C.V.Sairam, Principal Scientist, proposed the Vote of Thanks.
