LUDHIANA: The College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, organized a three-day tailor-made capacity building program for a group of 25 farmers, including 07 women entrepreneurs, from Haridwar under Uttarakhand state sponsored program. It was coordinated by the Senior Fisheries Officer of Haridwar, Mr. Jaiprakash Bhaskar.
Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, training program coordinator, informed that the training was tailored to upgrade the knowledge base of the trainees, already rearing carp and catfish in Haridwar district. She added that the trainees were apprised of new technologies and innovations in respect to various aquaculture practices and systems, in special reference to carp polyculture; pangas catfish culture; fresh water prawn culture; ornamental fish culture, breeding & seed production; fish feed formulation and manufacturing; intensive aquaculture technologies, like Recirculatory Aquaculture System (RAS) and biofloc based aquaculture system; health management; and post-harvest processing for value addition.
The training was coordinated by Dr. S. N. Datta and Dr. Grishma Tewari, including exposure visits to fish farms of progressive farmers i.e., Sh. Jasvir Singh Aujla, Village Karodian and Sh. Malkit Singh, Village Madnipur (Ludhiana) and modern fish market of Ludhiana, for real time interaction and experience sharing among the trainees and the stakeholders producing and marketing fish in the state.
Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice Chancellor of the University endorsed that university is committed towards capacity building of stakeholders and providing assorted utility services for comprehensive development of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sectors; with special emphasis on entrepreneurship development among rural youth, women and the farming communities, at state and national levels.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF, communicated that customized training programs are being organised by the college to instill need based updated skills among the stakeholders from the region, who are already engaged in aquaculture or are aspiring to take up aquaculture as a full time/part time enterprise for self-reliance.
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education, informed that the university organizes various capacity building training programs for livestock and fish farmers on a regular basis, including customized training programs tailored as per regional needs.