To cater the increasing demand and interest of the people in the field of ornamental fishes, three day training programme on “Ornamental fish farming” was organized at College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana to promote ornamental fish culture among fish farmers, unemployed youth and women. Indian waters possess rich diversity of exotic 
and indigenous ornamental fishes, but the trade is concentrated in and around metro cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. However, in the recent past, interest in ornamental fish is growing in many states, including Punjab. Hence, there is ample scope for development of the sector. While inaugurating the training programme, Dr. Asha Dhawan, Dean, College of Fisheries apprised the trainees that Global ornamental fish trade is worth Rs. 2000 crores with an average annual growth rate of 14 % and is contributing significantly to rural development, through livelihood generation, in many developing countries, including India with an ornamental fish market worth Rs. 50 crores contributing 0.32% to global ornamental fish trade.
The participants including hobbyists and traders from different districts of Punjab were imparted technical knowhow on different aspects of ornamental fish culture like identification of important cultivable varieties, culture and breeding processes, feed and feeding management, water quality management, pond management, disease management, propagation of aquatic plant, aquarium fabrication, decoration and maintenance etc. According to Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur and Dr. Sachin Onkar Khairnar, Course coordinator and Technical coordinator of the training programme, a small scale 1000 ft2 backyard culture and breeding model with an average earning of Rs. 8000-9000 / month, has been developed in the college for demonstration and skill development in the farming as well as non-farming communities including rural household women, youth, hobbyists and traders. Broodstock rearing, and seed production of various ornamental fish verities like Koi Carp, Gold fish, Molly, Platy, sword tail etc. have already been carried out successfully at College of Fisheries and the technologies are being demonstrated to the masses through regular training programmes.
