ICAR-CCARI team organises farmer-scientist interface in coastal Karnataka

    Scientific team of ICAR-CCARI lead by Dr Parveen Kumar, Director organised farmer-scientist interface programmes at five locations in Uttara Kannada (Kumta and Honnavar) and Udupi (Maravanthe, Kundapura, and Brahmavara) coastal districts of Karnataka during 5 to 6 October, 2024. The interface covered a total of 80 farmers/fishermen including 20 SC and 20 women farmers in the region involved in agriculture and allied farming activities. The team visited proposed sites for goat farming, fish farming and agro-eco-tourism in Kumta and advisories were provided for further development of the units. The cage culture units of Honnavar were visited and the challenges on operations, water quality, and feed management were discussed. The package of practices on piggery, poultry, and duck farming were also shared among the cage farmers, who have shown interest to integrate diversified agriculture activities. The fishing activities such as fish catch, landings, transport, preservation and packaging were monitored and documented at the Maravanthe fishing harbour. The challenges faced by the fishermen and fisherwomen were also discussed. A field demonstration of seabass polyculture in coastal ponds was inaugurated by stocking the seeds of seabass at Kundapura. The proposed sites for cage culture was also inspected along the Panchagangavali estuary. The vegetable seeds, veterinary medicines, feed supplements, leaflets on scientific livestock farming were distributed. The package of practices for keeping the Aseel bird unit was discussed and refinements were suggested. The farmers were also encouraged to incorporate climate resilient goat breeds in the farming unit. The integrated fish farming unit at Brahmavara was visited, where the farmer practices multi-species fish culture including seabass, murrel, Indian Major Carps, exotic carps, Rupchand, tilapia and small cyprinids. The farm also holds a facility for maintenance and supply of fish seeds to the interested farmers in Udupi and adjoining region. The coconut, arecanut, spices, fruits and vegetables are grown in the farm. A small dairy unit of four cows is also maintained within the farm. The farmer was advised to develop the farm as a fish-based agro-eco-tourism model and also to maintain it as a centre for training and demonstration to the interested farmers of the region.