ICAR-Navsari Gujarat Research Centre of CIBA, Navsari, Gujarat has been established in the year 2018 to evolve in to a nodal centre for development of brackishwater aquaculture in the west coast. The centre is located in Navsari, in the South Gujarat region, that forms the most intensive shrimp farming regions in the country. After the establishment of the centre, ICAR-CIBA signed an MoU with Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat in 2018, for development of brackishwater aquaculture in Gujarat under which, the Govt. of Gujarat, provided 5 ha brackishwater farm in Matwad Village, Navsari for carrying out research in the field of brackishwater aquaculture for period of three years. Rightly since its inception, NGRC of CIBA, has been carrying out the research and livelihood enhancement activities for tribal and SC communities at the farm during the last 3 years. Impressed with the R & D programs carried out by NGRC of CIBA, during the last three years, especially related to livelihood enhancement activities through nursery rearing and growout of brackishwater finfish and demonstration of commercial growout for indigenous shrimp species, the Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat was generous enough to provide 10 ha farm on 25 years lease to ICAR-CIBA in March, 2021. The lease was offered free of cost to ICAR-CIBA.
Dr. K. K. Vijayan, Director, CIBA, inaugurated the 10 ha Brackishwater Aquaculture Research and Development farm of NGRC of CIBA, on 31st May, 2021 through a virtual program on zoom platform due to the ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions. Dr. K. K. Vijayan expressed his sincere gratitude to the officials of Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Gujarat for providing the farm to ICAR-CIBA. He also added that the farm is rightly placed in the west coast and would play a pivotal role in brackishwater aquaculture development in the region. Dr. Mahalakshmi, Principal Scientist and Nodal officer, NGRC briefed about the developmental and livelihood programs operational at the centre and thanked the Director CIBA for his support is developing the centre. Mr. Pankaj Amrut Patil, Officer In charge and Scientist, NGRC, gave a short description of the farm facilities and the future plans to develop the farm in to a model brackishwater aquaculture farm for the west coast. The online inauguration program of the farm was also attended by all the Heads of Divisions and Unit in Charges at ICAR-CIBA. The program was also attended by Mr. Tanveer Hussain, Mr. Jose Antony, Scientists, NGRC, field and farm staff of NGRC, and SHG members under the TSP and SC sub plan programs. The inaugural programme was facilitated by Scientists of NGRC, Mr. Pankaj Amrut Patil, Mr. Tanveer Hussian and Mr. Jose Antony and P.Mahalakshmi, Nodal Officer, NGRC.
