Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi has released Rs 40 lakh as first year grant to Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana under Niche Area Excellence in Fisheries. GADVASU is the third in the country to get this prestigious project in fisheries after G.B. Pant University of Science and Technology, Pantnagar and Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai. Dr. V.K. Taneja, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU, told that the project has been sanctioned for undertaking region specific research for sustainable aquaculture in Punjab with major focus on developing suitable aquaculture package for inland saline waters/waterlogged areas in the south west districts of Punjab and diversification of carp culture with high value species like catfishes/air breathing fishes for higher economic gains and aquaculture productivity enhancement through suitable technological interventions. Punjab has witnessed tremendous growth in the aquaculture sector in last three decades with about 10% compound growth rate in the present decade and still has vast potential for further vertical and horizontal expansion. Dr Taneja further stated that the niche area project in fisheries will help in establishment of centre of excellence at GADVASU for generating quality human resource/manpower and region specific aquaculture technologies for sustainable growth of fisheries sector in the state. Inland saline water utilization for economic gains through aquaculture will help in uplifting the socio-economic status of the affected farmers
According to Dr Kamaldeep Kaur, Dean, College of Fisheries and in-charge of the project, the State has a considerable stretch of land (1.25 lakh ha) in south-west districts affected by salinity/water logging which is either unsuitable for agriculture or underproductive for profitable agricultural activities and has a great potential for fish production, employment generation and socio-economic up-liftment of farmers owning these waste lands. University has pioneered in this field by conducting on-farm trials in salt affected water logged areas in Fazilka, district Ferozepur to assess the possibilities of aquaculture in inland saline waters and achieved fresh water carp productivity of 2.5tonnes/ha/yr in salinity up to 10 ppt. She further stated that the university had also been successful in rearing of brood-stock and carrying out breeding and seed production of common carp, a freshwater carp fish, in inland saline waters which is expected to be more salt tolerant for surviving well and growing fast in these waters.
Dr Asha Dhawan Senior Scientist cum Head, Department of Aquaculture and Principle Investigator of the project, informed that more on-farm trials will be conducted under this project in different inland saline waters of districts of the state for developing site specific aquaculture packages, as preliminary studies have revealed that water chemistry of inland saline water varies with site even within the same district. She further stated that breeding and seed production trials for catfishes like Indian Magur and Singhi have been carried out successfully in the university and further research will be carried out for developing complete brood stock rearing, breeding and seed production packages for catfishes and other air breathing fishes. Diversification will provide more lucrative aquaculture options for higher economic gains per unit area.
