RAC Team of ICAR-CCARI visits outreach sites of fish cage culture in Goa

 

 

 

RAC Team of ICAR-CCARI visits outreach sites of fish cage culture in Goa

    ICAR- Central Coastal Agricultural Research Institute, Goa organised the Second Meeting of the Xth Research Advisory Committee (RAC) on 8th and 9th May, 2025 at Goa.

    The meeting was attended by Dr. S. D. Sawant, Chairman of the RAC & Ex-Vice Chancellor, Dr BSKKV, Dapoli, and the members- Dr. Grinson George, Director, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi; Dr. Manoj P. Samuel, Executive Director, CWRDM, Kozhikode, Kerala; Dr. V. Sejjan,  Dean, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Veterinary Education & Research (RIVER), Puducherry; Dr. S. Vennila, Ex-Principal Scientist, ICAR- NCIPM, New Delhi; Dr. Raj Kumar Gautam, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Germplasm Evaluation, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi, Dr. A Velmurugan, ADG (Soil and Water Management), ICAR New Delhi; Dr. Parveen Kumar, Director, ICAR-CCARI, Goa, Dr Shirish D. Narnaware, Member Secretary, RAC and the team of ICAR-CCARI staff.

    The team visited the cage culture and crab culture outreach and transfer of technology sites in Curtorim, Madgaon, South Goa located in the Zuari estuary, a source of livelihood for fishermen and fish farmers on 8 May 2025. The team interacted with Smt. Silvia Fernandez, the first women cage farmer from Goa and also with other six farmers and fishermen. The RAC team reviewed the impact of the interventions by one to one feedback from farm women and farmers. They assessed impact by comparing the productivity, income and livelihood options before and after interventions of the activities of ICAR-CCARI, Goa.

    They appreciated the efforts of the ICAR-CCARI team for a holistic approach to support the farmers to initiate and develop cage aquaculture and crab culture in Zuari estuary, where there was only traditional fishing activities prevailed. The interventions on quality fish seeds, feeding management, cage fabrication, repair and maintenance, crab culture systems, capacity building, and regular scientific advisories were provided to the farmers. RAC appreciated the efforts of the institute and also recommended optimisation in the fish growth and marketing, documenting the impact of the activities in the form of publications and videos for wider dissemination and sensitization of the farming community. Dr Solomon Rajkumar, Dr Sreekanth GB and Shri Trivesh Mayekar co-ordinated the field visit.