Progressive fish farmers from different districts of the State attended the Monthly meeting of Innovative Fish Farmers Association (IFFA) of Punjab at College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. The farmers were apprised of best management practices for higher fish productivity and profitability, especially during the transitional
season through the monsoons, informed university IFFA coordinator, Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, Principal Scientist (Fisheries).
The COF scientists, Dr. S. N. Datta and Dr. Amit Mandal coordinated the technical sessions on prospective alternate species to diversify traditional carp culture practices; natural food production with special reference to copefloc technology; and climate smart intensive aquaculture technologies, to upscale the knowledge base of the farmers to combat upcoming challenges of climate change and food safety.
The IFFA president S. Ranjodh Singh and vice president S. Jasvir Singh shared different activities of the association and highlighted major concerns of the fish farmers, which were addressed by the university experts. Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF informed that the IFFA is playing an important role in connecting farmers with the university, for consultancy, technical guidance, capacity building and utility services. Aligning with the theme of upcoming Pashu Palan Mela in the month of September, the association will join hands with the university in creating public 
awareness about health benefits of fisheries products to promote domestic consumption among non-vegetarian Punjabi population for sustainable development of the sector, she added.
During the meeting proposal for conducting off-campus IFFA meetings in different districts approved to develop a robust fish farmers network across the State. Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education endorsed that such efforts will expand the horizon of the association and connect more stakeholders with the university for capacity building and utility services.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor highlighted that the university is working towards empowerment of livestock sectors through technology update and is nurturing proactive linkages with livestock farmers and fish farmers for effective adoption of technologies through capacity building.
