ICAR-Central Island Agricultural Research Institute (CIARI) launched on February 23–25, 2024, at the ICAR-CIARI Garacharma a skill development program titled “Freshwater Ornamental Fish Culture for Entrepreneurship Development.” This program was created to promote entrepreneurship among Nicobarese youth. In collaboration with NABARD, Port Blair and DST ,New Delhi, the training was conducted under the Schedule Tribe Component, under the guidance of Dr. E. B. Chakurkar, Director of ICAR-CIARI, Port Blair.
The three-day workshop started off with the participants receiving a complete training course that covered the various sub-topics of ornamental fish farms. They were trained on various aspects, including species selection, breeding techniques, aquascaping, health management, tank construction, live feeds, and hatching. The lead of the Division of Fisheries, Dr. S.K. Zamir Ahmed, unveiled the bountiful business opportunities in ornamental fish farming within the islands, which served as a launching pad for the show.
Dr. J. Praveenraj, the Course Director and Scientist, along with the Course Coordinators, namely, Dr. K. Saravanan, Dr. R. Kiruba Sankar, Shri. D. Karunakaran, and Dr. Chittaranjan Raul, delivered step-by-step practical training that laid special emphasis on the skill requirements of successful fish farming enterprises. In addition to these sessions, the program also involved field exposure visits to a farmer’s field and aquarium retail outlets that offered a practical and experiential environment for the participants.
A total of 49 active participants—29 females and 20 males—were involved in the training program that was held in the different villages of Car Nicobar. The majority of their feedback was incredibly positive, demonstrating the potency of the program in acquainting them with the necessary knowledge and skills for whichever area of ornamental fish farming they decide to venture into.
Alongside bringing economic prospects to the youth of Nicobar, this initiative also has the potential to promote the sustainable development of the region’s aquaculture sector. Through cultivating local talent and promoting entrepreneurship, the training program of ICAR-CIARI lays the groundwork for the further development and prosperity of the Nicobaris communities.
Source-ICAR-CIARI
