ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), in collaboration with the Fishery Department & ARIAS Society, Govt. of Assam under Asian Development Bank (ADB) funded ‘Sustainable Wetlands and Integrated Fisheries Transformation’ (SWIFT) Project organised a 3-days residential training programme on “Sustainable Utilization of Wetland Fisheries” during 10-12 Dec, 2025for the officials at its Regional Centre, Guwahati.
The programme was organised under the supervision of Dr B. K. Das, ARS, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore; Shri G. S. Das, ACS, Director of Fisheries, Assam; Dr S. K. Majhi, ARS, Head, ICAR-CIFRI RC, Guwahati and Dr R.C. Barman, Joint Director, Fishery Department, Assam. The programme was coordinated by Dr P. Das and Dr S. C. S. Das, ARS, Senior Scientists of ICAR-CIFRI and Mr R. Pegu, FDO, ARIAS Society, Assam. A total of 40 officials (including 12 female officers) attended the programme.
The training programme was inaugurated by Prof. Niranjan Kalita, Vice Chancellor, Assam Veterinary and Fishery University, as the Chief Guest on 10 December 2025 in the august presence of Dr B. K. Das, ARS, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore (online); and other Scientific and technical staff from ICAR-CIFRI, Fishery Department, ARIAS Society, Govt. of Assam.
The Head, ICAR-CIFRI, Guwahati Centre, formally welcomed the guests and shared insights regarding the training programme’s goals and objectives. In the inaugural address, Professor Kalita emphasised the importance of this training programme for the sustainable utilisation of wetland fisheries. The Director, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, highlighted (online) the need for integrated approaches for sustainable utilisation of wetland fisheries by stakeholders. Dr R.C. Barman, Joint Director, Fishery Department, urged the participants to interact with the resource persons on the inclusive development of wetland fisheries.
The officers were explained on different aspects of sustainable utilisation of wetland fisheries during 3 days of deliberations. Important topics like overview of SWIFT project, protocols for wetland fisheries management, cage & pen culture practices, in-situ raising of fish seed rearing, macrophyte management, Soil and water quality parameters, fish disease & health management, environment monitoring, fisheries management through participatory approach, engineering aspects of wetlands, post-harvest management, fish marketing, etc. were discussed.
The valedictory session of the training program was held on 12 December, 2025, where the Head of ICAR-CIFRI, RC, Guwahati, extended a warm welcome to the Chief guest, Dr Probodh Borah, Director of Research (Veterinary), Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Khanapara, Guwahati. He urged all trainee officials to work sincerely in the field to ensure the proper implementation of the SWIFT project. Dr B. K. Bhattacharjya, Principal Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI, informed that they will provide all possible support for the successful implementation of the ADB-SIFT project. Shri G. S. Das, Director of Fisheries, Assam, thanked ICAR-CIFRI for agreeing to work as a knowledge and technical partners for the SWIFT project. Dr P. Das, Senior Scientist and Coordinator, provided a summary of the training report. Participants from different districts of Assam shared positive feedback on the training programme. Dignitaries distributed participation certificates to all trainee officers in the session. The training programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Dr S. C. S. Das, the programme’s coordinator.
