National Fish Farmers Day celebrated by Dr. M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri

Dr. M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri celebrated the National Fish Farmers Day 2021 by organizing an online meet and an exposure visit cum training on freshwater fish culture on 10.07.21. The online meet was organized by the Department of Aquaculture on the theme “Sustainable Aquafarming in Tamil Nadu”. Dr. B. Ahilan, Dean, Dr. M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri inaugurated the online guest lecture event and highlighted the contribution of TNJFU in promoting aquaculture in the State. The invited speakers were Mrs. Jenyferck, Deputy Director of Fisheries, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M. Sekar, Scientist, Regional Centre of CMFRI, Visakhapatnam and Mr. N. Mathu Prakash, Managing Director, Ruimex Aqua Tech, Kumbakonam. The speakers covered topics on Inland Aquaculture status in Tamil Nadu and its promotion through various schemes offered by the State Fisheries Department, Govt. of Tamil Nadu and this was followed by Marine Cage Farming of Indian Pompano and Orange Spotted Grouper and its avenues. The lectures concluded with the talk by the entrepreneur on Fish Farming: Field Level Experiences and Challenges. Mr. Ashik Ahmed, Literary Association Secretary, Students Association presented the slogans of students who participated in the slogan competition. The Professor and Head of the Department, Dr. Cheryl Antony proposed the vote of thanks. Dr. S. Selvaraj, Assistant Professor, Department of Aquaculture coordinated in conducting the online event.

Contemporarily, the Department of Fisheries Extension, Economics and Statistics [DFEES], Dr. M.G.R FCRI, Ponneri in association with the Office of the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Tiruvallur District commemorated the National Fish Farmers Day by organizing a one day ‘exposure visit cum training on freshwater fish culture’ on 10.07.21. Fifteen volunteered aspirants in freshwater fish farming were taken to Mr. Munusamy’s GIFT farm at Sennakarai, Tiruvallur District. The farm is chosen specifically for the visit as it has availed NADP’s 40 percent subsidy under the promotion of GIFT scheme. Ensuring the Govt. guidelines on COVID-19 for the meeting, Mrs. S. Agnes Daney Angela, Assistant Professor and Head, DFEES welcomed the dignitaries and participants of the exposure visit cum training. She also briefed the activities of the institute’s soil and water quality testing mobile laboratory and invited the participants to make use of it. After a brief self-introduction of the participants and experts, Mr. Munusamy explained his field level experience in farming and thanked the Office of the Assistant Director of Fisheries, Tiruvallur District for the constant support in farming. Mr. G. Ajay Anand, Assistant Director of Fisheries, Tiruvallur District explained the PMMSY scheme and while clarifying the doubts of the participants, he insisted the participants to take Mr. Munusamy as an inspiration as he has achieved 900 grams of growth in GIFT [which is first of its kind in Tamil Nadu] through the facilitation of the department. Dr. C. Lloyd Chrispin, Assistant Professor, DFEES and Dr. L. Surulivel, Assistant Professor, DFEES were the other experts who spoke about the institute’s role in developing fish farming and ensuring rural food security to the participants. The participants visited the entire farm and clarified their doubts with the farm owner and experts on various aspects in freshwater fish farming.