Vet Varsity Scientist Earns Research Project on Improvement of Livelihood Status of SC Population through Aquaculture  

Ludhiana, July 31, 202: Science for Equity Empowerment & Development (SEED) Division of Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology (DST), GOI sanctioned a R&D Project on “Improvement of livelihood status of the Scheduled-Caste (SC) population of Punjab State through Biofloc fish farming and value addition of produced fish” worth Rs. 52.36 lakh to Department of Fish Processing Technology (FPT), College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

The principal investigator of the project, Dr. Vijay Kumar Reddy S., Scientist, informed that under the present environmental challenges, it become imperative to adapt climate smart, water saving and cost-effective aquaculture technologies like Biofloc based fish farming (BFF) to benefit different stakeholders, especially the SC population of the state. Value addition of fish will further enhance farmers’ income, besides extending shelf life of fisheries products, he added. The project team includes co-investigators, Dr. Amit Mandal, Dr. Siddhnath, and Dr. Vikas Phulia.

Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, HoD informed that BFF is a zero or minimal water exchange production system, where fish productivity can be 10-20 times higher with only 10-12% water requirement as compared to traditional pond culture system. Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean COF informed that this project will play an important role in promoting ‘Culture cum Processing Model’, in special reference to fish reared in a biofloc based culture system.

Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Director of Research, congratulated the team of scientists for earning an important project for improving livelihood status of SC communities which required very small land holding as compared to traditional culture practices. Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor endorsed that climate smart food production systems like BFF are required to address upcoming challenges of food security, climate change, resource depletion, pollution, biosecurity and food safety. Value addition is also essentially required to develop convenient fish products with extended shelf life to enhance consumption of fish and fisheries products, especially in north-western region of the country, he added