CHANDEL: With the aim to preserve endemic variety fish species, a Live Fish Gene and Community Aquaculture Centre was inaugurated at Chakpikarong in Chandel district on Saturday besides an awareness programme.
Organised by Dhanamanjuri University (DMU), Manipur in collaboration with ICAR – National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources, Lucknow, the Centre was inaugurated by Prof. W. Chandbabu Singh, Vice-Chancellor, DMU along with Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR-NBFGR and Robert Singh Kshetrimayum, IAS, Commissioner, Fisheries, Govt of Manipur.
Addressing the event, Dr. Kajal Chakraborty, Director, ICAR-NBFGR appreciated the idea of Community Aquaculture Centre at Chakpikarong adding that the spot has been identified as one of the hotspots with endemic species of fishes.
The Director also expressed his joy on being informed that over 100 species of fishes have been discovered in Chakpi River, the lifeline of Chandel and Chakpikarong.
Robert Singh Kshetrimayum, IAS, Commissioner, Fisheries, Govt of Manipur, who hasd earlier served as the DC of Chandel said the Community Aquaculture Centre project was a very positive project.
He also said that the project of preserving and conserving fish will not only benefit the people of Chakpikarong but the whole state of Manipur as well. He added that such projects are important for the growth of the population of the indigenous or endemic fishes.
Prof. W. Chandbabu Singh, Vice-Chancellor of DMU also appreciated the initiative taken up by Dr. Bd. Shangningam, Asst. Professor, DMU for establishing the Community Aquaculture Centre.
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As part of the event, a book on fishery was also released while a Memorandum of Understanding was also exchanged between DMU and ICAR.
Input items such as fish food, net and buckets were distributed to over 100 fish farmers that attended the event.
During an interaction session, questions related to fish, fishery and its market were put forward and the same answered by T. Phulen, Director, Fisheries, GoM.
Besides the fish farmers, the event also saw the presence of Md. Tajuddin, SDO Chakpikarong; Dr. RK. Joteen Singh, Registrar, DMU; Prof. L. Hemchandra Singh, Dean, DMU; Ts. Berek, Chairman, ANCACSD and staff and scientists from DMU.
The event was a collaborative initiative on Sustainable Aquaculture, Community Empowerment and the Blue Revolution towards Viksit Bharat.
