Interactive workshop on ‘Cage culture in Umiam reservoir, Meghalaya’ held at Umiam


 An Interactive workshop on ‘Cage culture in Umiam reservoir, Meghalaya’ was organized by ICAR-

Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Regional Centre, Guwahati in

collaboration with ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam at Umniuh Khwan village of

Umiam, Meghalaya on 21.12.2021. The programme was organized under the overall guidance of Dr.

B. K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; Dr. V. K. Mishra, Director, ICAR RC for NEHR,

Umiam and Coordinated by Dr. B. K. Bhattacharjya, Head (Acting), ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati as

well as Dr. S. K. Das, Principal Scientist, Division of Animal and Fisheries Science (DAFS), ICAR

RC for NEH Region, Umiam. Scientists and technical personnel of the two ICAR Institutes namely

Dr. Pronob Das, Dr. S. Borah, Mr. A.K. Yadav, Dr. D.K. Meena, Mr. T. Tayung, Ms. Peetambari

Devi, (Scientists), Mr. Alakesh Das (TO) and Mr. Prasanta Mahanta (STA) acted as resource persons

in the programme. The programme was attended by 55 tribal farmers (including 25 women) of

locality under the Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union led by Mr. D. Mazzao (President) and Mr. Brightstar K

(Secretary). Representatives from local media also present in the interactive programme.


Mr. D. Mazzao welcomed the guests and participants for the programme and thanked both the ICAR

Institutes for their initiatives on Cage culture in the reservoir for the benefit of the local community

led by an all women group. Dr. S. K. Das explained the purpose of the day-long programme. He

informed the participants that cage culture in Umiam reservoir of Meghalaya was initiated for the

first time during 2019 by ICAR-CIFRI Regional Centre, Guwahati in collaboration with the ICAR

RC for NEHR, Umiam and Ri-Bhoi Farmers’ Union. He stated that it was possible because of the

guidance of Dr. J. K. Jena, DDG (Fisheries), ICAR, New Delhi and initiative of Dr. B. K. Das,

Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore. Dr. S. Hazarika, Principal Scientist & Nodal Officer, TSP,

ICAR RC for NEHR, Umiam outlined major activities initiated by complex in the NEH region for

livelihood improvement of tribal communities. Dr. B.K. Bhattacharjya thanked the Director, ICAR-

CIFRI for sanctioning CIFRI-GI cages (6 no.) and providing CIFRI-CcageGrow feed for initiating

cage culture in Umiam reservoir. He mentioned that both ICAR institutes worked together for the

upliftment of tribal communities.


He stated that cage culture in reservoirs is coming up in a big way

in different states of India through technological back-stopping by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore and

financial assistance under PMMSY programs. He urged the local communities led by women to take

utmost interest for making the collaborative cage culture a success even beyond the project period so

that similar government support may be received in future. On the occasion, a leaflet on

“Management of openwater fisheries in Meghalaya: ICAR-CIFRI interventions” was released for the

benefits of different stakeholders. A total of 9000 nos. of fish fingerlings were released in cages

installed in the reservoir and four tons CIFRI-CAGEGROW feed was provided to the beneficiaries

for use in cage culture. Mr. Brightstar proposed a formal vote of thanks. He thanked both the ICAR

Institutes for implementing cage culture in Umiam reservoir for third consecutive year and urged

group members to work sincerely as per under the technical guidance of researchers for its success.

During the technical session, Dr. Pronob Das gave a brief presentation on cage culture technology for

openwaters including the findings of previous cage culture trials in Umiam reservoir. Resource

persons from the two Institutes interacted with the participants on different aspects of cage culture

including feed and health management and economics.

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