ICAR-CCARI organized Field day cum farmer interaction at Sindhudurga, Maharashtra

    ICAR-CCARI organized a field day with farmer interaction program on May 1, 2024, to gain insights into the challenges shrimp farmers face along the coastal region of Maharashtra. The objective was to assess the current status of shrimp farming and to understand issues in shrimp farming. The team conducted visits to five farms in different villages such as Redi, Vengurla, and Malvan in Sindhudurga district, Maharashtra. These farms primarily consisted of medium-sized setups spanning 0.5 to 2 acres, with shrimp production ranging from 3-4 tonnes per crop. Utilizing Litopenaeus vannamei species and employing high-density culture practices and machinery were common across all the farms. However, farmers expressed concerns over mounting electricity charges, escalating feed costs, disease outbreaks, slow growth rates, and diminishing market demands.

    The team also visited an ornamental fish farm to gather insights and offer recommendations to the farmers. Shri Trivesh Suresh Mayekar, Scientist at ICAR-CCARI, pledged technical support to all farmers and emphasized the significance of data collection in coastal districts for formulating effective policies and raising awareness to combat the evolving climatic conditions. The visit was co-ordinated by Shri Trivesh Suresh Mayekar (Scientist, FGB), Dr. Sreekanth G B (Senior Scientist, FRM), and Melbin Lal (YP). This field visit underscored the collaborative efforts to address the challenges confronting shrimp farmers and enhance the resilience of coastal communities in Maharashtra.