Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pic - Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Jul 31: An intensive training programme in fisheries for the benefit of farmers on ‘Freshwater Prawn and Fish Farming’ was jointly organized by the Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU) and College of Fisheries here on Monday, July 30 at the Jawahar Navodaya School at Mudipu, near here.

Coordinator Dr H Shivananda Murthy while welcoming the gathering stated that India stands second in the world, in aqua culture. He felt that hundreds of streams, ponds and water storage tanks found in DK and Udupi can be utilized for aqua culture. Training for the same will be held for 10 days for farmers from July 30 onwards in Mudipu village, he informed.

Speaking on the occasion former MLC Anna Vinay Chandra stated that KVAFSU should do it’s utmost to promote and develop an Indian breed of ornamental fish and market it.  He stressed on the need to grow and encourage ornamental fishes. High quality ornamental fishes are found in many streams of Western Ghats and it is imperative on our part to display such ornamental fishes before the world community, he opined.

In Udupi and Karwar districts of DK, 8,000 hectares of land can be utilized for prawn cultivation however sadly only about 2,000 hectares of land is being utilized as of date. There is scope for promoting aqua culture in Raichur, where one finds huge streams, informed the MLC.

According to Vinay Chandra though huge streams and ponds are missing in DK district, every farmer can breed fishes in the small ponds available in his estate. He believed people have this wrong notion that fishes are available only in the coastal region.  Inland fishing is fast gaining momentum like deep sea fishing and hence it should be encouraged, he added.

The vice-chancellor of KVAFSU Dr R N Srinivas Gowda in his inaugural speech stated that integrated farming is essential to increase the standard of living of the farmers. Depending on one crop will not give much benefit to farmers. The demand is much greater for aqua culture and growing of ornamental fishes. People prefer to have ornamental fishes at home. Moreover there is also a greater demand for ‘Vastu fish’ which costs around Rs. 5,000, he informed.

Till date around Bidar district KVAFSU has distributed around 12 lac fingerlings. Scientists are developing fast breeding and growing varieties of the said fish, Gowda added.

Dr R N Srinivas Gowda was conferred the ‘Krishika Bandhu Prashasthi’ by the Bharathiya Kissan Sangha (Puttur) on the occasion. Prof K M Kaveriappa presided and Fisheries College professor Joseph Manisari and Jawahar Navodaya School principal G J Sakretas were also present.