ICAR-CIBA has developed cost-effective and quality feed using indigenous feed ingredients for multispecies aquaculture, and the feed is promoted as the ‘Poly Plus’. This technology was successfully tested and demonstrated both in our farms and in the farmer’s ponds. The technology is being transferred to private entrepreneurs for upscaling and commercial production on a non-exclusive basis. ICAR-CIBA signed the MoU for the Polyplus with Mr. Kajal Kumar Roy, NRG Feeds at Joyrampur, P.O.-Dihi-Baira, Arambagh, Hooghly, West Bengal on 6th March 2018. The company envisaged producing Poly Plus feed with the CIBA technical collaboration. The feed will be supplied to aquaculture farmers who are doing sustainable farming practices such as Polyculture and ‘Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA)which is expected to have an impact on the local farming community of West Bengal and other coastal states. adjoining states, by reducing the cost of production of Polyculture. This MoU event was presided by Dr K.K. Vijayan, Director, ICAR-CIBA, in his opening remarks impressed upon the utility of ‘Poly plus’ in bringing down the cost of production, and thereby increasing the profitability of farmers income in multispecies farming, leading to the doubling of farmers income. He also highlighted that NRG feeds are already in the business of aquafeed and producing fish feed for freshwater species and it will be easier for them to expand their business to coastal districts and states of India. Further, he emphasized that the company should supply the feed to farmers with discounted profits so, that farmers can directly get the benefit of poly Plus. Dr Debasis De, Principal Scientist and team leader for the Poly Plus Feed development program of CIBA briefed about the significance of this MoU and highlighted that the success of this model would pave the way for many entrepreneurs to enter into this business. Earlier in this event, Dr T. Ravishankar, Principal Scientist and PI, ITMU-ABI Unit welcomed the clients and introduced them to the audience. All the HODs, Scientists from Nutrition group, and the team from NRG Feeds attended the meeting.
