NALBARI, June 14 - The Vice-Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University, Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah formally inaugurated a mega fishery project at Nalbari on June 10 . The project titled �improving livelihood benchmark of the poor and ultra poor through fishery-centric growth and employment intervention in Nalbari district of Assam� has been implemented by Pancharatna Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd (PMCS), a reputed development-based group of the district with technical association from the Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Jorhat.
The mega fish project is financially supported by the North Eastern Council (NEC), Ministry of DoNER, Govt of India and is under execution in Pub-Nalbari development block, Paschim Nalbari development block, Borigog Banbhag development block, Barbhag development block, and Barkhetri development block in the district.
In his speech, the Vice Chancellor explained the different components of the projects to the fish farmers. He also emphasised on ways to improve productivity of the fishery sector. Bujarbaruah mentioned about the blue revolution programme initiated by the Central Government. He appreciated PMCS Ltd, the implementing agency for its dedication and sincerity towards implementation of the project and urged the fish farmers to avail every possible opportunity from the project so that their income increases two fold.
The MLA of Nalbari constituency Ashok Sarma as the chief guest of the meeting appreciated the approach taken by PMCS Ltd and asked the fish farmers to follow the scientific method of fish culture to increase the productivity of their fisheries. Dr Hemen Bhattacharyya, Director of Extension Education, Assam Agricultural University in his speech emphasised on the need to increase productivity of food due to growth in population. He urged the fish farmers to take the opportunity from the project so that the amount of fish import to the State can be reduced. Dr B C Deka, Director ATARI, ICAR another guest of honour encouraged the fish farmers to adopt integrated fish farming practices viz., duckery, piggery and plantation of vegetable and herbs on the dykes. He thanked the AAU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah and the PMCS Ltd for their effort to execute the project from NEC.The inaugural meeting was addressed among others by Ranin Sarma, Director, Physical Plant, Assam Agricultural University, Dr Mridul Deka, the programme cocoordinator of Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Nalbari, Mahendra Baishya, chairman, Pancharatna Multipurpose Co-operative Society Ltd. Under this new mega project, the farmers will work to build the co-operative model among the selected farmers so that they can make their livelihood sustainable.
On the occasion, PMCS Ltd released a hand book Vigyansanmata Meen Palan prepared with technical inputs from Sonmonia Bhuyan, SMS, Fishery and Dr Mridul Deka, programme co-coordinator KVK, Nalbari.
