NONGPOH: Anup Thakur, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry Dairying & Fisheries under the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday inaugurated the Ri Bhoi Fish Farmers’ Capacity Building Centre on the premises of the office of the Superintendent of Fisheries here in the presence of Principal Secretary, Fisheries Department, KN Kumar, Ri-Bhoi Deputy Commissioner Pooja Pandey and Director of Fisheries, IR Sangma.
The inaugural function was also attended by officials of the district administration and from various departments, fish farmers and local residents.
The centre was constructed under the Meghalaya State Aqua Culture Mission at a cost of Rs.25 lakh.
In his inaugural speech, Thakur congratulated the Fisheries department for proper implementation of the scheme for the benefit of the people and stated that the Aqua Culture Mission has the potential to promote employment opportunities and generate income for the people.
He called people of the area and the district as a whole to invest in fisheries for prosperous livelihood and also to help the government achieving success through Aqua mission.
He also said that the capacity building centre was essential for fish farmers since it would provide them with training on fish farming.
Kumar informed that the Aqua Mission, which was launched in Meghalaya on March 5, 2012, aims at creating 10, 000 hectares of area for fisheries. He also said that one-third of the work has been completed and hoped that the target would be achieved in time.