Odisha Samachar Odisha Breaking News , Odisha Current News , Odisha News
Related Articles
Sarakana, Khordha/ Bhubaneswar, 29/7/2023 ( Odisha Samachar )- Aqua Chaupal, developed by ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture, for promoting farmer to farmer learning, was inaugurated today by Padmashree Batakrushna Sahoo at Sarakana. 
Aqua Chaupal is a place where fish farmers can sit together and discuss fishery related issues to improve decision making ability and develop interpersonal skills among them. The Chaupal located close to the Sarakana fish farm will serve as a platform and would attract potential fish farmers to gather and discuss about the issues faced by them in fish farming practices. 
The Institute has conceptualized Aquaculture Field School, where a lead farmer trains and educates a group of 25 fellow farmers. It had established the first Field School at Sarakana at the farm of Sri Sahoo, a CIFA trained fish farmer cum entrepreneur. Aquaculture Field School network has grown to 19 and has spread to Arunachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Assam, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The Chaupal developed under Farmer FIRST project, being operated by the Institute, would go a long way in strengthening extension and advisory services. Farmers and rural youth would be benefitted by sharing experiences at the Chaupal with Sri Sahoo, a role model and source of inspiration for many. 
Regular sessions of interactions with the farmers at the Chaupal would facilitate trouble shooting of problems related to aquaculture practices. 
A Farmer-Scientist Interface session was organised to address the problems faced by fish farmers in practicing composite carp culture. Around 125 farmers and farm women attended it. Dr. G.S. Saha, Dr. H.K. De, Dr. S.K. Sahoo, Principal Scientists of ICAR-CIFA addressed production related queries and responded to questions. Mr. D.P. Rath gave vote of thanks and motivated the farmers to maintain active contact with the scientists of ICAR-CIFA in the coming years.
