DG, ICAR discussing with the stakeholders at Veraval Research Centre of ICAR-CIFT and CMFRI

Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary (DARE) & Director General (ICAR) visited VeravalResearch Centre of ICAR-CIFT and CMFRI on 7th April 2018. During his visit he interacted with stakeholders from Seafood export association, Boat Owners’ Association, KVK and fishermen community along with the scientistsand visited different laboratories of both the centres.Then he made a review of the ongoing research activities of the centres. While reviewing the work of the ICAR-CIFT centre, honourable DG impressed withthe commercially viableproducts developed by VeravalResearch Centre of ICAR-CIFT and appreciated its effort for transfer of technology by signing the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with different community/society for community empowerment through skill development and technological support for fish entrepreneurship promotion. 

During his interaction with stakeholders, he expressed his happiness to know the contributions of the centre for the development of the fishery sector. The meeting was also attended by many stakeholders of CIFT and CMFRI mainly Shri Piyush Bhai Fofandi, President, Seafood Exporters Association, Gujarat chapter; Shri Tulashi Bhai, President, Boat Owners Association of Veraval; Dr.Brijendra Singh Rajawat, Head, KVK, Kodinar, Gir- Somnath district, Gujrat and Shri Hassan Bhai Mossangara, President, Sidi tribal fisher community of Veraval. In response to a query by the President Seafood Exporters Association regarding the setting up of referral laboratory for fish testing at VRC of ICAR-CIFT, Honourable Director General assured that the laboratory will be completed at the earliest possible to address their problems. With the feed-back response from President of Sidi tribal fisher community, he lauded the efforts of both ICAR-CIFT and CMFRI for their enthusiasm, proactiveness and participatory approach to work with fisher community for their sustainable livelihood development.Hon’ble DG also appreciated both ICAR-CIFT and CMFRI for working in collaboration with KVK, Kodinar to reach the farmers, which is considered to be a vibrant conduit to disseminate the technologies through trainings and demonstrations.
Later, in his address to the scientists, DG ICARexpressed his happiness over the work of the centre and stressed that research output should come out of the laboratory and reach to the farmers and must contribute towards the incomeenhancement of the fisher community. He urged the scientists to take up the need based and problem specific research programmes,which must be targeted to combat the plight of the farmers and fishers.He reiterated that while taking up any project the focus must be on contributing towards the societal development. He reminded that this is a challenging task for the researcher especially for Agricultural scientists where they have to work in multi-disciplinary mode with multi-dimensional approach to protect the interest of farmers and contribute to the economy of the nation and over-come the problems like climate change and global warming etc.In his deliberation to scientists, he made special mention to the blue-revolution and told that Gujarat has immense potential for the growth in the fisheries sector.Dr. Ashish Kumar Jha, SIC, Veraval Research Centre (VRC), ICAR-CIFT and Dr.Divu D., SIC, Veraval Research Centre (VRC), ICAR-CMFRI coordinated the whole programme.
 

DG, ICAR addressing the scientists and staffs of ICAR-CIFT and CMFRI

DG visit to Referral Laboratory at VRC, ICAR-CIFT