Dr.M.G.R Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri, a constituent unit of
Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University organized the National Workshop
PONSHRIMP 18- Responsible Feeding Management on 25.07.2018. The inaugural ceremony
began at 10.00 am in the institute’s conference hall. Dr. B. Ahilan, Dean i/c, Dr.MGR FC&RI,
Ponneri and Convenor of PONSHRIMP’18 welcomed the gathering. The programme was
inaugurated by the Chief Guest Dr. S. Santhanan Krishnan, CEO, Maritech Ltd in the presence
of Prof. S. Felix, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University (TNJFU) and
other delegates by lighting the traditional lamp. Dr. N. Felix, Director i/c, Directorate of
Incubation and Vocational Training in Aquaculture (DIVA) delivered felicitation address in the
inaugural ceremony. Prof. S. Felix, Vice-Chancellor, Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries
University in his presidential address appreciated the Dean i/c and faculty of the institute for
organizing the event for the third consecutive year. Further, he explained the importance of
organizing such workshops and stressed on “incubation” after such workshops/trainings to help
farmers to venture into aquaculture sector and added that TNJFU is progressing in ensuring
incubation facility through trainings offered in its centers. A Compendium of the workshop was
released by the Vice-Chancellor, TNJFU and the first copy was received by the chief guest of the
programme. Dr. S. Santhanan Krishnan in his chief guest address appreciated the concept
behind the local brand building of “PONSHRIMP” and urged that farmers as well as researchers
and students should understand the advances in feeding management and implement the same
at the field level. He also advocated that B.F.Sc students should be developed as professionals
in clinical expertise and conferred as doctors on par with veterinary students and other health
care specialists. He also added that TNJFU should focus on creating an academic/research
ambience for encapsulating business knowledge to its students, as it will help them in emerging
as successful entrepreneurs. The inaugural ceremony concluded with vote of thanks proposed
by Dr. A. Gopalakannan, Assistant Professor, Dr.M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri.
Technical session began with presentation by Prof. S. Felix, Vice-Chancellor, TNJFU on “Need
for change in Aquafeed industry“. Technical sessions of the event had a total of seven
presentations revolving around the various aspects of responsible feeding management in
aquaculture such as its importance, current status and future prospects in Tamil Nadu and
India. Dr. K. Ambasankar, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIBA, Chennai, Dr. N. Felix, Director i/c,
DIVA, TNJFU and Dr. A.Gopalakannan, Assistant Professor, Dr.M.G.R. FC&RI, Ponneri were
the prominent speakers from Government organizations in the workshop. Dr. K. Ambasankar
delivered a lecture on current status of shrimp feed industry in India and the significance of
feed and its management in shrimp aquaculture. Dr.N.Felix spoke about recent trends in shrimp
nutrition. Dr. A.Gopalakannan gave a presentation on Nutrifloc – Balancing Shrimp Nutrition
through Biofloc Meal. Private sector was represented by Mr.R.Kannan, Director Marketing &
Sales aqua Kemin Industries South Asia Pvt. Ltd, Mr.A. Kumaresan, Director, Sheng Long
Biotech (India) Pvt. Ltd., Chennai and Dr. G.Ramesh, Wenger Manufacturing Inc., USA.
Mr.R.Kannan delivered his talk on the topic of “Sailing through the storm- controlling culture
conditions”. Mr.A. Kumaresan spoke about Better Feeding Management to reduce the Cost of
Production in Litopenaeus Vannamei Farming. Dr. G. Ramesh delivered a lecture on benefits of
extruded feed for Vannamei shrimp farming. The technical session was followed by panel
discussion in which the participants mainly farmers clarified their doubts in feeding
management with the experts who delivered lecture in the programme. The event concluded
with the proposal of vote of thanks by Mr. T.L.S. Samuel Moses, Assistant Professor,
Department of Aquaculture, Dr. MGR FC&RI, Ponneri. Nearly 100 farmers along with the
faculty and students of Dr. MGR FC & RI, Ponneri participated in the event.
