ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha commemorated its 37th Annual Day on 01 April 2024, at its Kausalyaganga Campus. Established in 1987 under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, ICAR-CIFA has grown to become the nation's leading research institute in freshwater aquaculture. The event saw esteemed guests including Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, Director of the Zoological Survey of India, Kolkata, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Joining her were Dr. Amaresh Kumar Nayak, Director of ICAR-National Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, and Dr. Debasis Dash, Director of the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneswar, who were present as guests of honor.
Dr. Banerjee stressed the importance of preserving Mother Nature for a country reliant on agriculture. She highlighted the Zoological Survey of India's role in identifying approximately 300 new animal species annually and announced plans for collaboration with ICAR-CIFA through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for joint research initiatives.
Dr. Nayak emphasized the need for increased cooperation to tackle issues concerning food and nutritional security, particularly for marginalized communities. Dr. Dash echoed similar sentiments, advocating for collaboration between the Institute of Life Sciences and ICAR-CIFA across various disciplines within life sciences.
Dr. P. K. Sahoo, Director of ICAR-CIFA, outlined the institute's notable achievements over the past year. These included the successful breeding of a catfish using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, commercialization of three technologies, development of an IoT-based smart automatic fish feeder, enhancement of the Matsya Setu app in regional languages, and the creation of a web portal to raise awareness about the health benefits of consuming fish.
During the event, ICAR-CIFA was recognized with ICAR certification for 12 technologies/products/methodologies, entered into 13 MoUs with organizations for collaborative research, training, and technology transfer, and acquired three patents. Additionally, nine publications authored by the institute were released, showcasing its contributions to the field of freshwater aquaculture.
Representatives from various ICAR institutes attended the ceremony, underscoring the collaborative spirit and shared commitment to advancing agricultural research and development.
