National Fish Farmers’ Day was celebrated with lots of enthusiasm and fervour on 10th July, 2016 at ICAR-CIFE Mumbai. The Chief Guest of the function was Dr. (Mrs.) Bharati H. Lavekar Member of Legislative Assembly, Versova constituency and Shri Bijay Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Govt. of Maharashtra was the Guest of Honour. On this occasion a total of 22 numbers of successful Fish Farmers, Fishery Entrepreneurs, Fish Breeders, Best Social Workers for fisheries development were awarded for their significant contributions in fisheries and aquaculture.

The Chief Guest Dr. (Mrs.) Bharati H. Lavekar congratulated the award winning fish farmers and affirmed that CIFE is doing yeoman services for the fish farmers and fishery entrepreneurs. She also added that fishery fraternity should take benefit of CIFE’s presence in Versova area. The Guest of Honour Shri Bijay Kumar, IAS Principal Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Govt. of Maharashtra pointed out the systematic problems faced by fishery sector and steps taken by the department to resolve them through single window system. He also lauded the efforts of CIFE in HRD and over all development of the sector.

The Director CIFE informed that CIFE is taking active steps in human resource development and urged the fisheries fraternity to take maximum advantage of the CIFE’s presence in this region. Thereafter, a Fish Farmers – Scientists Interaction meeting was held in the afternoon of 10th July, 2016 in which about 50 fish farmers, entrepreneurs, breeders, hatchery operators participated with enthusiasm. A question answer session was also organized in which HoDs and scientists replied the technical queries raised by the farmers & fishermen.