ICAR- CIFE Kakinada centre celebrated “National Fish Farmers day” on 10th July 2016. Hon’ble MLA Shri. Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao was the Chief Guest of the function. Shri. Kanaka Raju, Asst. Director of Fisheries, Shri. P. Kesava Raju Head of Department of Zoology P. R. College Kakinada and Shri. N. P. Chandra Sekhar, Regional Co-ordinator, NaCSA, Kakinada are the Guest of Honours for the programme. Dr. Muralidhar P. Ande, Officer Incharge, ICAR- CIFE Kakinada centre, welcomed the dignitaries, progressive fish farmers, farming entrepreneurs, officials and other distinguished guests present at the event. In his address, he recalled that the eminent fisheries Scientist Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri had for the first time succeeded in Induced breeding of carps on 10th July 1957 at Angul farm near Cuttack Research station of CIFRI, and to commemorate this event, Government of India declared celebration of Fish Farmers day on 10th July of every year. He also briefed about the role of ICAR-CIFE in fisheries Human resource development, fisheries research and extension. He also added that ICAR-CIFE Kakinada centre had trained nearly 8000 farmers in both freshwater and brackish water aquaculture including Bihar farmers. National Fish Farmers Day Celebrations at ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Kakinada

Hon’ble MLA Shri. Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao said that the aqua farming plays a pivotal role in the economy of Andhra Pradesh. He added that presently in Andhra Pradesh the aquaculture have vast potential in the revenue generation in the form of exports. He said that the aqua industry will be given the main priority by the government. He also emphasized on the increase of subscidy policies for aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh. He also said that efforts have to be made to increase the field level support to aqua-farmers. He also appreciated the contribution of ICAR-CIFE, Kakinada centre towards the blue revolution. He appreciated the ICAR-CIFE, Kakinada centre efforts in identifying and felicitating progressive fish farmers every year, which served as an encouragement to the awardees and a source of inspiration for other aqua farmers. He also appreciated ICAR-CIFE, Kakinada centre for starting one year skill development certificate course on “Fish farming and hatchery operations” for developing the skills to provide technical personnel to the aqua industry. He said that he proposed to get the Fisheries University of Andhra Pradesh to be established in Kakinada.

Shri. Veluri Suryanarayana, shrimp farmer, Tallarevu, E.G dist., had been felicitated as the “Best Fish Farmer” (Brackish water) and Shri. Rayudu Elisha, Fish farmer, Bikkavolu, East Godavari Dist., had been felicitated as the “Best Fish Farmer” (Freshwater) for the year 2016.

Scientists- Mrs. K. Syamala, Dr. T. I. Chanu, Dr. Arun Sharma, Asst.Chief Technical officers-Dr. J. Krishna Prasad, Dr. P. Srinivasa Rao, K. Murali Mohan, V. Narsimhacharyulu, R. Ravi Shankar Patnaik, Administrative staff- B. Laxman Rao, Mrs. M. Rama Mani and a total of 100 aqua farmers were present at the event.