ICAR-CCARI organizes a field day cum farmer interaction in coastal Karnataka

    ICAR-CCARI organized a field day cum farmer interaction program on 13 May 2024 focused to understand the challenges of shrimp farmers in coastal Karnataka. This initiative sought to assess the current status of shrimp farming and identify critical issues impacting the industry.

    The program included visits to five shrimp farms at Karwar, Kumta, and Ankola. The major issues highlighted by the farmers were the high electricity costs, the prevalence of white gut disease, and varying market prices for shrimp. To further their research, the team collected water and soil samples from the shrimp fields for detailed analysis.

    In addition to shrimp farms, the team also interacted with the estuarine cage farmers in Kumta, where recent advancements in seabass culture and market linkages to improve profitability were discussed. The team also visited Canares Aquaculture, a fish hatchery in Kumta, opening new pathways for research in seed production and culture of seabass.

    Shri Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, scientist from ICAR-CCARI, assured all technical support to farmers and emphasized the importance of recording data on farming. He also underlined that such data is crucial for corrective actions and formulating effective management measures.

    The visit was coordinated by Shri Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, Dr. Sreekanth G B (Scientists of CCARI), and Melbin Lal (YP2). This field visits underscored the significance of collective efforts to address the challenges faced by coastal fish farmers and to enhance the resilience of coastal communities.