The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Focus on quality, aqua farmers told

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 12, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Focus on quality, aqua farmers told

By Our Special Correspondent

KAIKALURU, OCT. 11. The Director-General of Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), Mangala Rai, has stressed the need for farmers in aqua culture to improve quality of their products to withstand global competition. He has also underscored the importance of an integrated research for development of pisciculture. He was participating in a farmers' meet organised by Shri Sairam Hatcheries to mark the first anniversary of introduction of the `Jayanti Rohu', a genetically improved fish, here on Monday.

Mr. Rai said that while the laboratories equipped with technical know-how were set up in different states for taking up research work on marine products, aqua culturists in Andhra Pradesh, where there was no such facility, succeeded in ushering in the `blue revolution'. "The development would have been much faster in the State, had there been the necessary technical back up for aqua culturists," he said.

ICAR measures

About the initiatives launched by the ICAR to promote aqua culture, he stressed the need for bringing together the `dispersed sources' (the laboratories) together along with the necessary infrastructure for an integrated approach in the field. In addition, there was utmost need for improving the extension work right from the production stage to marketing the products. Towards this end, the Centre was contemplating setting up of Kisan Vikas Kendras in different parts of the country to impart training to people who in turn would train farmers.

Keeping in view the growing importance for transgenics, the ICAR had also entered into research to produce different species under the genetic improvement programme. But, the research was being limited to ornamental fishes initially. "The final products will be given out only after conducting efficient and effective risk assessment studies," he said.

Responding to the requests made by the State Fisheries Commissioner, P. Krishnaiah, he promised ICAR's support to the post-graduate course in aqua culture being contemplated by Acharya NG Ranga Agriculture University.

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