By Our Reporter
Shillong: With an aim to enhance fish seed production and impart knowledge to the farmers of the state on modern technology of aquaculture especially breeding technique, the Fisheries department has come up with a full- fledged research centre at Ri Bhoi which will be inaugurated on Thursday.
The first of its kind in the State, the Mawpun farm-cum-research centre at Ri Bhoi is expected to enhance the fish seed production with a target of about 25 lakh fries. It will be a demonstration centre to all fish farmers for breeding, feeding and the like.
Sources informed that this Mawpun Farm which was established in 1989-90 with a total area of 13.30 acre was taken over by the Fisheries department from the Agriculture department prior to upgradation.
During the 4th five year plan, the farm was extended to a research-cum-training centre. But due to lack of basic facilities, research work could not be carried out and fund shortage has resulted in dilapidated ponds.
The recent attempt at upgrading the centre and equipping it with a sophisticated laboratory is expected to benefit many fish farmers of the state.
It may be mentioned that the farm with a total area of 5.05 hectare will have 14 nursery ponds, 2 rearing ponds and 3 stocking ponds, all improved through RKVY scheme and the remaining will be improved under the Aquaculture Mission of the state government.
The total upgradation of the whole farm including training hall was sanctioned at a total amount of Rs 2crore.
Meanwhile, the department is seeking the approval for construction of two rearing ponds, one stocking pond and four nursery ponds while seeking proposal to upgrade all the training halls to research centres in all the districts under the Aqua Culture Mission.
The training centre will impart training to the first batch 80 farmers from all over the state, taking two batches a month.
This training–cum-research centre at Mawpun will stress on induced breeding of Indian Major Carps (IMC) and the endangered species chocolate Mahaseers. After the establishment of the hatchery, the centre will take up fish seed production of exotic carp and minor carp locally known as Kha Ski.
Training will be imparted by experts from the Central Institute of Fresh Water Aquaculture (CIFA) and Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) besides resource persons will be drawn from the Pisciculture department of St Anthony’s College, Shillong.
