Ornamental fish farming is the next big industry which has immense potential for growth in Manipur after the tourism sector, said Manipur University vice chancellor professor N Lokendra on Wednesday at Imphal.
He was speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day training programme on ‘Entrepreneurship Development through Ornamental Fish culture’ for scheduled caste fish farmers held at the Seminar Hall, Commerce Department, Manipur University.
The programme has been jointly organised by the Department of Zoology, Manipur University and ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research (DCFR), Bhimtal.
The vice chancellor highlighted that numerous people are building personal aquariums and getting into ornamental fish rearing, as such he exhorted people to explore the spectrum of entrepreneurial opportunities in ornamental fish farming.
The vice chancellor stated that the training programme will produce quick economic benefits for scheduled caste fish farmers and prove useful in upgrading the economic standards.
“The farming techniques provided will be very practical to the farmers as it requires little to no expense”, he said.
Lokendra pointed out that input distribution will also be conducted during the training programme. On top of that, aquariums along with fish feeds will also be distributed during the programme, he added.
The MU vice chancellor further stated that the programme is targeted towards unemployed youths of the state.
As many as 30 farmers from different SC areas which include Kakching, Thanga among others will take part in the training programme.
Dean of School of Agricultural Science, Manipur University, Professor G K N Chhetry; ICAR-DCFR Bhimtal Director, Pramod Kumar Pandey; Head of Department of Zoology, MU, Professor Th Binoy and Assistant Professor of Life Science Department, MU, Rameshori Yumnam among others were present during the inaugural function.
