Shri. Jawaharbhai Pethaljibhai Chavda, Honourable Minister of Fisheries and Tourism, Govt. of Gujarat visited the Navsari Gujarat Research Centre of CIBA and the Brackishwater Aquaculture Research and Demonstration Farm (BARD) at Matwad village, Navsari on 1st December, 2019. Honourable minister interacted with CIBA scientists and the women SHGs who have adopted brackishwater aquaculture technologies developed by CIBA for their livelihood development. Mr. Pankaj Patil, Scientist In-charge of NRGC explained the positive impacts of the CIBA technologies on the farming community and overall development of brackishwater aquaculture sector in Gujarat. The honourable minister then visited the exhibition centre wherein all candidate brackishwater aquaculture species such as Milkfish, Asian seabass, Indian White shrimp, Pearlspot, Spotted scat, Giant Mud Crab and Grey Mullet, were displayed in live condition. The significance of these candidate species used in brackishwater farming with special reference to Gujarat scenario was appraised to the honourable minister by the scientist Mr. Tanveer Hussain NGRC. Following the meeting, the minister addressed the gathering comprising of shrimp farmers, tribal and scheduled caste beneficiaries of NGRC and other stakeholders. During his address, the honourable minister congratulated ICAR-CIBA for its technologies and emphasized the farmers and stakeholders to take up these technologies for improving production and profitability in aquaculture. The honourable minister interacted with the beneficiaries working with NGRC under Tribal and Scheduled Caste sub plans for their livelihood enhancement and training. The minister applauded the NGRC team for their earnest effort in supporting the beneficiaries and developing the farm within a short period, and promised all support to ICAR-CIBA for the development of the farm and its long term lease to the centre. He highlighted the need of strengthening collaborations between department of fisheries and ICAR-CIBA for development of fisheries sector in Gujarat. Mr Patil, Scientist and Officer In charge, NGRC, welcomed the honourable minister, and Mr. Jose Antony, Scientist, NGRC expressed vote of thanks.
