The presentation was attended by ICAR-DCFR scientists and research scholars.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research
India's ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, has presented three "high-performance" feeds for rainbow trout (starter, grower, and brooder feeds) and Recirculating Aquaculture (RAS) technology to increase coldwater fish production in the Indian uplands.
Growel Feeds Ltd. and ICAR-DCFR also agreed to transfer and license rainbow trout feed package technology. Growel Feeds provides a variety of nutritional solutions for economically important aquatic species.
During the presentation, Dr. Pramod Kumar Pandey, Director of ICAR-DCFR, Bhimtal, highlighted the role of private-public partnerships in developing impactful technologies for fish farmers and the importance of these for expanding rainbow trout production in India.
The feeds have been designed by Dr. Biju Sam Kamalam and his team. The main attributes are growth rate improvement, feed efficiency, size uniformity, flesh quality, reproductive competence, and offspring quality.
On the other hand, the RAS technology minimizes water use and increases net productivity in a shorter culture duration.
By 2021-22, India exported 17,35,286 MT of seafood products worth USD 8.09 billion (EUR 7,42 billion), a record for seafood exports in terms of volume and value.
ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal is the only premier research institute in India that works for the sustainable development of coldwater aquaculture, management, and conservation of the hill stream fishes.
It has operated since 1987 under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. ICAR-DCFR conducts quality research, extending services for sustainable coldwater fisheries production, management, conservation, and eco-tourism to ensure the potential of livelihood opportunities among upland populations.