Biofloc enthusiasts flock vet varsity for capacity building

Ludhiana: A group of more than 120 participants from five districts of Punjab, including 70 rural women, attended a three-day capacity building programme in Biofloc-based Aquaculture (BFAQ) at College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University. The training programme was tailored to apprise the beginners with basics of biofloc aquaculture technology and equip them with the required technical expertise for establishing indoor and outdoor biofloc aquaculture systems successfully. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) of the department of fisheries (DOF), Govt of India, is being promoting in different states. It is a water efficient technology requiring only 10-15% of water per kg fish production as compared to traditional aquaculture practices. The capacity building resource centre for intensive aquaculture technologies, established at the under scheme, is emerging as an asset to cater the training needs of the regional stakeholders.It is playing a vital role in sustainable expansion of intensive aquaculture technologies like this programme along with recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS) in Punjab and its neighbouring north western states, Dr Meera D Ansal, college dean, said.Principal scientist Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur coordinated the training programme that included two days off-campus technical sessions at de-tonstration farm-cum training centre of the department of fisheries in Ena Khera village of Sri Muktsar Sahib and one day on-campus practical sessions at the centre. The trainees learnt to set up the biofloc units; select suitable species, produce and manage biofloc, configure biosecurity, operate machinery; test water quality, design feeding regimes, manage aquatic animal health and recycle waste.