Fisheries Extension Education (2+1)

1.2.3 History of Fisheries Extension in India 

Attempts were made as early as 1928 for the development of fisheries through technology transfer and the still the process is continuing. Some of the significant attempts made so far in India for technology transfer is fisheries are given as follows.

Royal commission on agriculture (1928) noted that nothing was being done to develop the country’s fishing industry and recommended to the Government that utility of the Departments should not be judged from the amount of revenue it earned.

- As per the recommendation of the Grow More Food Campaign (GMFC) in 1940, t raining centres on fisheries were established in Barrackpore, Calcutta and Mandapam in 1945. A fisheries experiment station was set up at Barrackpore in 1947 (which has later become CIFRI).

- The First All India Fisheries Conference (1948) convened in New Delhi recognised the importance of fishing industry at the hands of the concerned officials of the central and State Governments and did focus its attention on the need to develop fisheries industry. The idea of subsidizing some part of capital expenditure, especially on mechanism, originated in this conference

- The All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on composite carp culture was started in 1971 for demonstrating that technology in different macroclimatic zones.

- AICRP on air breathing fish culture was launched in 1971 in West Bengal, Karnataka, AP, Bihar and Assam to evolve appropriate technology on freshwater air breathing fish culture in public water bodies.

- The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) was established in 1972 to augment the country’s fisheries production and to promote export of seafood.

- Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) were started in 1974 as a district level grass root institution to impart need-based and skill-oriented vocational training in agriculture and allied fields to farmers, unemployed youth and extension workers through work experience. The first KVKs was started at pondicherry in teyear 1974. 

- The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) - Rural Aquaculture Project was launched in 1975 with the thrust on demonstration of various aspects of carp culture and carp seed production by providing all necessary inputs and know-how for improving the rural economy. This was operated in 75 villages in West Bengal and Orissa.

- Operational Research Project (ORP) was launched in 1974-75 to disseminate proven technology in a cluster of villages to identify the constraints there of for rapid dissemination of technical know-how.

- Fish Farmers Development Agency (FFDA) was initiated by the Government of India in 1974-75 to popularise fish culture as an alternative means of employment generation and removal of poverty for the rural poor.

- Inland Fisheries Project (1979) aided by the World Bank was started which provided credit assistance for construction of modern fish seed hatcheries. A total of 62 hatcheries came up in North India under this project.

- Lab to land project was launched in 1979 to transfer technology from research laboratories to farmers’ fields to improve the economic conditions of small and marginal farmers.

- Brackishwater Fish Farmers Development Agencies (BFFDA) (1985-90) were established with an objective to utilize the country’s vast brackishwater resources for fish /shrimp culture.

- Institute Village Linkage Programme (IVLP) was initiated in 1996 for assessment and refinement of technology in the light of bio– physical and socio-economic constraints. IVLP was launched to provide technology package suitable to microsystems with in which a farmer operates.

- Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC) was started with the objective of “Single window system “ of delivery of products, information and analytical services to farmers and entrepreneurs.

-Jai Vigyan Mission (2000) was launched for ensuring household food and nutritional security through enhancing productivity of fisheries in tribal, backward and hilly areas and is presently under way in Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Assam.