College of Fisheries (COF), College of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, recently had a five-day training program on ‘Fish Farming’ jointly organized by the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE). It was a step that was taken by the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SC-SP) scheme of the Government of India in order to empower and castigate Scheduled Caste (SC) stakeholders in the area of fish farming with the aim of making it possible for them to adopt fish farming as a business endeavor for livelihood and employment creation. With Course Director Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur at the helm, the Education Programme had the 25 SC candidates of Punjab as a part of it.
The scientists were coordinated by Dr. Grishma Tewari and Dr. Amit Mandal, including the whole range of fish farming from ‘Pond to Plate’. The participants gained hands-on experience with multiple angles of aquaculture that involve water quality, feeding regimes, health management, integrated fish farming, and modern technologies like biofloc aquaculture, recirculation aquaculture, and aquaponics. The program will feature site visits to the farm of a progressive fish farmer, Mr. Jasvir Singh Aujla, and a modern fish market in Ludhiana district, thereby offering participants a practical view of the industry. Moreover, the university utility services disseminated and also the details of the fisheries sector development schemes to the trainees.
Ms. Meera, Dean COF, shared future plans for a training program to improve skills in ornamental fisheries, fish processing, and integrated fish farming for the community of artisanal fishers. Mr. Prakash Singh Brar, the Director of Extension Education, highlighted these programs as effective tools for empowering the deprived SC communities through education and the technical provision of support. Dr. Ravishankar C. N., Director and Vice Chancellor of ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai, stressed the imperative of skill development by way of addressing the issue of social equity.
