Dr. T.K. Srinivasa Gopal, Principal Scientist and Head, Fish Processing Division,  Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin has been conferred with Fellow of National Academy of Agricultural Sciences in the field of  Agricultural Engineering and Technology with specialization in Food Technology with effect from 1st January, 2010.

 

            Dr. Srinivasa Gopal is specialized in Retort pouch technology, Modified atmosphere packaging and extruded products. He developed  various retort pouch food products based on vegetables, dairy, coconut, meat and fish products. Earlier he has bagged ICAR team award for retort pouch technology and Chidambaram Award for developing value added fish products. He was the Project leader in the ICAR adhoc project on Development of extruded fish products using low value fishes and at present he is the Consortium Principal Investigator in the World Bank project on Oceanic tuna in Lakshadweep seas – A value chain approach. He is a Life Fellow Member of Society of Fisheries Technologists (India), Cochin, Member of Association of Food Scientists and Technologists, Expert committee member for assessment of CFTRI, Mysore scientists and Member in the Technical Committee, Food Safety Standards, Govt. of India.

The Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PGFG), Mumbai has awarded Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Senior Scientist, Fish Processing Division, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin with “Certificate of Appreciation” for the ‘Best Indian Fisheries Scientist Award for the year 2009. This has been awarded for securing the ‘Second maximum cumulative impact factor for the research papers published during the year 2008’.The award was presented on 22^nd December, 2009 at the College of Fisheries, Mangalore during the annual meet of the Forum.

Under the network project on ‘Capacity building of coastal fisherwomen through post harvest technologies’ a two day Trainers Training Workshop was organized by the Central Institute of Fisheries technology, Cochin in association with Directorate of Research on Women in Agriculture (DRWA), Bhubaneswar. The main aim of the Workshop was to equip the PIs, Co-PIs and Research Scholars of he Network Institutions with the latest technological developments in fish drying. PI, Co-PIs and Research Scholars from Fisheries College and Research Institute, TANUVAS, Tuticorin, College of Fisheries, Berhampur, KVK (ANGRAU), Undi, West Godavari participated in the Workshop.

 

            The Workshop began on 18th January, 2010 with an inaugural session in which Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, senior Scientist and P, CIFT welcomed the participants. Dr. P.K. Sahoo, Senior Scientist and PI, DRWA, Bhubaneswar gave a brief introduction of the project. Dr. B. Meenakumari, Director, CIFT, Cochin delivered the Presidential address and Dr. Krishna Srinath, Director, DRWA, Bhubaneswar spoke about the project and its future prospects. Dr. Nikita Gopal, Senior  Scientist and Co-PI, CIFT  proposed the Vote of thanks.

 

            The training session which followed included a lecture by Dr. P.N. Joshi, HOD, Engineering, CIFT, Cochin on ‘Recent advances in fish drying’. The participants were taken on a visit to the Mararikulam South Panchayath Fish Processing Centre, an LPG back up fish drying unit set up under the technical guidance of CIFT. On 19th January, 2010 lectures on ‘Quality control and HACCP’ by Dr. K. Ashok Kumar, Senior Scientist, CIFT, Cochin and ‘An overview of fish drying and  curing’ by Dr. J. Bindu, Scientist (SG), CIFT, Cochin were held. Demonstration on fish drying and packing followed the lectures.

 

            After the sessions, the project team held  discussions on the work plan and project implementation. It was decided that CIFT team will prepare the fish drying protocol and design of fish drying racks.

Central Institute of Fisheries technology, Cochin conducted a two day training programme  8^th and 9^th February, 2010 on  “Preparation of value added oyster products” at Koothakunnam as part of the department of Science and technology funded project ‘Location specific livelihood interventions for empowerment of fisherwomen of Kerala’. A well started initiative for nurturing women empowerment in coastal Kerala, presently implemented in three districts viz. Ernakulam, Kollam and Alappuzha, the project envisages identifying location specific need based interventions in fisheries sector. The project team has already assisted the beneficiaries in initiating culture of edible oyster by women SHG groups. Training on preparation of value added products including breaded and battered oyster products, oyster masala and oyster fillings were imparted by resource persons from CIFT, Cochin, Shri P.K. Vijayan, Principal Scientist, Fish Processing Division and Dr. Femeena Hassan, Senior Scientist and  Principal Investigator of the project, Quality assurance and Management Division. Shri K. George Joseph, Principal Scientist and Acting HOD, QAM, CIFT  and Shri T.G. Ashokan, Panchayath President, Vadakkekkara panchayath offered felicitations and expected that project initiatives will enhance the livelihood opportunities of coastal fisherwomen. Dr. J. Charles Jeeva, Scientist, Senior Scale, Extension, Information and Statistics Division, CIFT, Cochin and   Co-PI of the project proposed vote of thanks.

Dr. B. Meenakumari, Director, CIFT, Cochin received the 6^th Dr. R.C. Dalela Oration Award -2009 from Dr. William D. Dar, Director General,  International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad  at the  29^th Annul Session of The Academy of Environmental Biology held at ICRISAT. Dr. Meenakumari also delivered a lecture  on the topic, “Remote sensing in fisheries on the occasion.

Dr. P.N. Joshi, Principal Scientist & Head, Division of Engineering, Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin was awarded the Kerala State Energy Conservation Commendation Certificate 2009 in appreciation of the commendable achievements towards energy conservation and management in the category of ‘Research and Innovation’ in the State of Kerala during the year 2008-09.   Dr. Joshi was selected for this award for developing a ‘Renewable Energy Solar-Biomass Hybrid Dryer’ for eco-friendly and hygienic preservation of fish and agricultural produce. The award was given by Shri A.K. Balan, Hon’ble Minister for Electricity, Government of Kerala at a function held at Jawahar Auditorium, Kannur, Kerala on 14^th December 2009 to mark the National Energy Conservation Day.

Professional Fisheries Graduates Forum (PFGF) has awarded “Dr. I. Karunasagar Award” for the Bet Indian Ph. D. thesis for the year 2009 to Dr. C.O. Mohan, Scientist, Fish Processing Division for his thesis entitled, “Shelf life extension of seer fish (Scomberomorus commerson) steaks using O₂ scavenger and CO₂ emitters in chilled conditions” under the guidance of Dr. C.N. Ravishankar, Senior Scientist, CIFT. The thesis was submitted to Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai (Deemed University). Dr. Mohan was honoured with a Certificate and medal during the Annual Meting of the Forum held at College of Fisheries, Mangalore on 22 December, 2009

The electronic equipments developed in CIFT  have wide applications in  different  mainstream activities  of the country  including  marine sciences, agricultural sciences,   water resources and management,  energy  and environmental sciences  etc. CIFT  had  transferred the know how on  Environmental Data Acquisition  System  and  a few    other instruments during  70’s   and 80’s  for commercialization  through  National Research Development Corporation of India. The wide scope, applications and reliability of  CIFT    instrumentation technology had been  demonstrated to  scientists  and engineers of  diverse  subjects  of agricultural,  marine,  fisheries  and  energy and environmental  sciences through  a dozen  National  Training Courses   supported by ICAR,  Department of Electronics and Department of Science and Technology, under the leadership of Dr. T.K. Sivadas,  who had served CIFT till 1998,  as Principal Scientist.    Some of the major  aspects of the technology  is available  in the book  on  “Sensors and measurement systems for marine, agricultural and environmental sciences”   written by    Dr. Sivadas  and published by CIFT in 2007.

 

The award  for Research  and Development   instituted by  Ministry of  MSME  (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) for the year 2008 was bagged by  Shri T.S. Sreejith , son of Dr. T.K. sivadas who is now running a firm of Environmental Measurements and Controls at  Cochin,  based on the efforts taken for  research and development during the period  2004  to 2008.   The  award presented by  Minister of  MSME  Shri Dinsha Patel   in  Vigyan Bhavan on 28^th August, 2009  consisted of  a trophy, a cash component of Rs. 20,000/- and a citation.

A project entitled “Location specific livelihood interventions in fisheries sector for the empowerment of fisherwomen in Kerala was sanctioned by Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi to Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin under Women component plan. The duration of the project is 3 years. Total funds allocation is Rs. 16,59,800/-.

 

The project was officially launched  on 25^th September, 2009. The function held at  Moothakunnam in Ernakulam district was inaugurated by Dr. B. Meenakumari, Director, CIFT, Cochin, by  lighting the traditional lamp. The project will be implemented in three coastal districts of Kerala viz., Ernakulam, Alleppey and Kollam for a period of three years from August 2009. The project is catalyzed and supported by Science and Society Division, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi. 

            At the inaugural function, Dr. Femeena Hassan, Senior Scientist and Principal Investigator of the Project welcomed the gathering and briefed about the project. In his presidential address Dr. M.K. Mukundan, Head, QAM Division, CIFT, Cochin highlighted the need for value addition of seafood products that would ensure quality and create employment opportunities for fisherwomen. He also stressed that threats to fisheries due to globalization can be overcome by value addition in fisheries that would be targeted at both export and domestic markets. Dr. B. Meenakumari, Director, CIFT, Cochin, in her inaugural address, projected the need for empowering women in fisheries. She highlighted the importance of taking the research findings from lab to land and said that the project would be a step forward in this direction. She also stressed the need for promoting value addition to ensure more value for the fishery based produces. Smt. K.A. Saira Banu, Joint Director of Fisheries, Central Zone, Ernakulam and Dr. Saleena Mathew, Professor & Co-PI, School of Industrial Fisheries, CUSAT, Cochin, offered felicitations on this occasion. Dr. J. Charles Jeeva, Scientist, Sr. Scale, CIFT & Co-Principal Investigator of the Project, proposed vote of thanks.

            The inaugural session was followed by an awareness campaign on ‘Value Addition and Quality Assurance in Seafoods’. About 60 fisherwomen from different Self Help Groups in Moothakunnam, Vadakkekara Panchayath, Ernakulam district participated in the programme.

Dr. B. Meenakumari, Director, CIFT is conferred Fellowship of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology (F. ASET) for outstanding contributions to inland and marine fisheries sectors and for undertaking material improvement for fishing gear. The fellowship was conferred to her by Shri. Sharad Pawar, Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Current Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a function held at Chavan Centre, Mumbai in connection with the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations of Fishery Survey of India, Mumbai on 7^{th February, 2009.}

Dr. C. Jessy Joseph, Asst. Director (OL) received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize 2008 for her work ?Aparichitar? (Malayalam). The award carries a cash prize of Rs.20,000/- an inscribed copper plaque which will be given away to her in August, 2009.

CIFT, Cochin bags the Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Award  2006 instituted by ICAR, New Delhi. The award is instituted by ICAR to recognize the agricultural research institutions which makes outstanding contributions for the growth and development of agricultural sciences and technology and to promote excellence in broad fields of agricultural research, education and training.
CIFT, Cochin is the only Institute in the entire ICAR system comprising of more than 70 Institutes, which was awarded this honour for the second time. Earlier in 2000 the Institute received the Sardar Patel Award and as per rules the same institution can be considered for award only after a gap of five years. Exactly after this period CIFT is getting the award. The award for 2006 carries a Citation and a cash prize of Rs. 5 lakhs. The award was received by Dr. K. Devadasan, Director, CIFT in the function held on 16th July, ie. the Foundation day of ICAR. Shri Sharad Pawar, Honourable Union Minister for Agriculture gave away the award.
During the X Plan period, CIFT executed Institute-based, sponsored and consultancy
projects in harvest, post-harvest and product and process development. Special projects were
implemented for the backward regions and weaker sections, especially women. Seven villages were adopted under the village adoption scheme. The Institute conducted two workshops and 14 FLDs, in which 800 participants were benefited. There were three major breakthroughs and eight technologies transferred/commercialized during the period. CIFT generated revenue to the extent of Rs. 457.92 lakh. It undertook 30 consultancy assignments, conducted 408 training programmes for 1,632 beneficiaries, published 174 books/folders, answered 1,715 technical queries, analyzed 10,165 products, conducted 74 exhibitions and participated in 16 media campaigns. The X plan achievements include:

Harvest

Low cost and durable susbstitutes for conventional craft
Energy saving concepts in trawling
Ecofriendly trawls for semi pelagic resources
Low energy ecofriendly harvest technologies
Popularisation of large mesh gill nets in Lakshadweep islands

Products

Ready-to-consume fried mussel in flexible retortable pouch
Battered and breaded products
Processed jelly fish and squalene
Fish powder incorporated cookies
Good quality cattle/piggery/poultry feed from ensiled fish wastes
Model effluent treatment plants
Eco-friendly fish drier
Meat bone separator
Multiple blade machine for cutting mollusk shells
Kit for rapid detection of WSSV in shrimp
Packing
Extruded products in thermoformed containers
Sausages in edible casings
Curries in retort pouch

XI plan priorities of CIFT include:

Using nanotechnology, bio technology and bio informatics in product development
Need-based special programmes in the northeast and the islands
Special facility for testing of commercial samples
Design and construction of tuna long liner
Testing tank facility for craft and gear testing
Establishment on National Accreditation Centre for testing and certification of fishing vessels
Establishment of Vessel Design Centre
Establishment of a full fledged boat building yard
Special programmes for women and weaker sections
Modernization of Library and documentation centre and ARIS cell
Human Resource Development
Creation of a Technical Advisory Centre for the fish processing industry
Creation of Hydro-acoustic and ethology laboratory
Establishment of a Centre of Excellence in food safety and risk assessment with modern facilities and manpower.

CIFT bags SARDAR PATEL AWARD for the best Institution under ICAR. CIFT is the only Institute which was awarded the prestigious award for the second time. The award carries Rs. 5 lakhs and a citation. The award will be presented to the Director, CIFT by the Honorable Union Minister for Agriculture in the ICAR Director’s Conference at New Delhi on 16th July 2007.

Dr. Saly N. Thomas, Sr. Scientist has been selected for Jawaharlal Nehru Award for P.G. Agricultural Research 2004. This award is given for the best Ph. D. Thesis in Fisheries . She did her Ph. D. under the guidance of Prof. Dr. C. Hridayanathan who was the Director of the School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Her thesis entitled `Gill Nets of Kerala: A Study on Technological and Operational Aspects examines gill nets as a low energy fishing technique, with focus on its technological and operational importance in the marine fishing sector of Kerala. While around 46% of the active marine fishermen in Kerala practice gill netting, which is a highly selective and energy efficient fishing method, the associated social status for this technology is relatively low. This research addresses three key issues of fishery management: (i) resource conservation through reduction of juvenile catch rates; (ii) reduction of capital cost; and (iii) contribution to energy efficiency. The selectivity estimates helped in arriving at the minimum mesh size to be used for resource conservation. An effort has been made in this study for the first time in Kerala, towards reduction of investment cost of the gear by substitution of costly polyamide (PA) by polyethylene (PE). A saving of 52% is found possible in the cost of gear alone. The study once again confirmed gill net as a fuel efficient gear. The innovativeness of this work lies in its interdisciplinary approach to analysis of some vital issues affecting the marine fisheries sector of Kerala. Besides, such a methodological approach has great significance in multi-species fishery elsewhere.