LUDHIANA: To promote sustainable development of aquaculture in the inland saline areas of Punjab, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA), Chennai. CIBA is a premier national institute dedicated to advancing brackishwater aquaculture in India.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Kuldeep K. Lal, Director of ICAR-CIBA, and Dr. A. K. Arora, Director of Research of the university, in the presence of Vice-Chancellor Dr. J.P.S. Gill, other university officers, and the scientific team from the College of Fisheries.
Highlighting the university’s efforts in transforming salt-affected, non-productive lands in south-west Punjab into profitable shrimp farming ventures, Dr. Gill noted that challenges such as seed quality, feed cost, disease outbreaks, and export-dependent marketing are major issues impeding the progress of shrimp farming in the state. He added that collaboration with CIBA will enable the university to address these challenges effectively, while also introducing new species and systems to ensure the sustainable development of inland saline water aquaculture in the region.
Dr. Lal remarked that there is immense potential for developing ISWA in north-western India. He highlighted CIBA’s plans to support the sector through biofloc nursery rearing of shrimp seed; cost-effective shrimp feed production using regional feed resources, effective disease management strategies, and diversification with suitable brackishwater species.
Dr. Arora emphasized that the MoU envisions enhancing the inland saline water aquaculture (ISWA) sector of Punjab through the introduction of innovative technologies tailored for small, medium, and large-scale farmers.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, College of Fisheries (COF), shared that the MoU will primarily focus on diversification and include provisions for the mutual exchange of scientific information, capacity building for stakeholders (faculty, students, and farmers), and collaborative research to develop sustainable aquaculture models for inland saline areas.