Govt to promote Biofloc technology to boostfish farming in Jammu and Kashmir: Navin Choudhary   

The Principal Secretary also instructed to depute the staff of all the districts forundergoing training at the private highly successful Biofloc unit at Bajalta on rotationbasis. 

In view of the multiple benefits of Biofloc Technology System over conventional pond Fishculture system and to demonstrate this high yielding Intensive Fish Farming to Farmers,the biofloc technology is being introduced in J&K. 

The department plans to promote thenovel technology among the Farming community and unemployed youth for adoption ofthe same as an income generating Fish Farming unit. 

Navin Choudhary recently visited to the Hunters Ranch at Meluri Jagir, Bajalta forinspection of the Biofloc unit established in private Sector by Colonel Sunil Singh Sambyal. 

The Biofloc Technology (BFT) system has gained vital importance as an approach inaquaculture as this technology is Eco-Friendly, land and water use efficient etc. 

Theconsumption of Biofloc by Fish has been reported to have numerous benefits such asimprovement of growth rate, decrease of FCR and associated feed cost etc. 

Thistechnology has already been adopted in many states and the BFT units are reportedlyrunning successfully.The Principal Secretary appreciated the efforts of the Department and issued on spotInstruction to the Director Fisheries, to establish such units in the other feasible areas ofthe Union Territory of J & K. 

The Principal Secretary also instructed to depute the staff ofall the districts for undergoing training at this Biofloc unit on rotation basis.Government of India (GOI) has announced an economic stimulus package –AtmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self Reliant India) for Fisheries Sector to bring “Blue Revolution”through sustainable and responsible Development of Fisheries under the nomenclaturePardhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). 

The main objectives of the PMMSYis to create direct employment opportunities, double the income of Fish Farmers besidesaddressing critical gaps in Fisheries Sector and to increase Fish production throughsustainable and responsible Fishing practices.

 The Scheme will focus on creating criticalmodernization and strengthening of value chain & improve availability of certified qualityFish seed/ feed. 

Under the said scheme the unit cost for establishing one unit of Bioflocconsisting of 7 tanks of 4mtrs dia and 1.5 mtrs ht is 7.50 Lakh.

The Department has facilitated establishment of 1073 Carp rearing units and 534 TroutRearing units in private sector, while 19 Carp Fish Farms and 51 Trout Farms/ RearingUnits, 16 Trout Hatcheries, 05 Carp Hatcheries, 02 Aquaria, Recreational centers,Marketing outlets, Trout Beats etc have been established under Govt. Sector in the variousDistricts of the Union Territory. Besides a number of Departmental units are underexecution at different stages. 

It is worth to mention here, that about 17,396 professionalFishermen of the Union Territory derive their livelihood through legalized Fishing innatural water resources.Besides adaptation latest Fish Farming technology by Colonel Sunil Singh Sambyal, onenamely Dr. Uttam Singh Sambyal also developed organic horticulture which involvesgrowing of fruits, vegetables, flowers in a natural way by following essential principals oforganic agriculture in soil building, pest management and heirloom variety preservation.Organic Farming is the growing of crops without use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides,and fertilizers and biomass recycling. 

The Principal Secretary while appreciating the efforts of the Department and also theColonel Sunil Singh Sambyal and Dr. Uttam Singh Sambyal stressed that future for themarkets for organic food is definitely bright and it is rapidly growing in some developingcountries. 

He further added that with consumer awareness of food safety, health and environmental issues , the organic food sector has become an attractive opportunity forthe farmers to fetch more income and markets would grow with the support of suchfarmers, the Government and such entrepreneurs coming together to work with farmers.

In addition to Biofloc Aquaculture technology and organic Farming, other recreationalfacilities like Adventure sports, Children Park, Desi Rasoi, Hunters Pot- Roast as well asCafeteria has also been made available for visitors/ General public and Tourists. 

The Principal Secretary was accompanied by Mohammad Amin Mir, Director Fisheries J& K and other officers of the Department.VC, SKUAST-Jammu inspects farming system research centre, seed processing plantJammu, Oct 09: Vice Chancellor SKUAST-Jammu, Prof. J.P. Sharma, Friday visitedIntegrated Farming System (IFS) model of Farming System Research Centre and MegaSeed Plant of the university, here at Chatha. 

He took stock of various development activities of the farms with the scientists.Dr. N.P. Thakur, Chief Scientist & Head, Farming System Research Centre explainedvarious activities of Integrated Farming System to the Vice Chancellor. 

He explained thatone hectare of Integrated Farming System model developed at Chathaha provided netreturn of Rs 3.20 lakh per annum in comparison to Rs 80,000 per annum Rice-Wheatcropping system which is being commonly practiced by the farmers. Dr. N.P. Thakur alsobriefed that Azollacan be used as a supplementary feed for animal, poultry and fishery toreduce input cost. 
The Vice Chancellor advised the scientists to develop Integrated Farming System modelsat each KVK of SKUAST-Jammu so that the farmers of Jammu region can be motivatedto adopt such economically viable model. 

Later, Vice Chancellor also visited Seed Processing unit where he took stock of breederseed production programme being carried under the supervision of DrAmbrishVaid,Nodal Officer Mega Seed Projects SKUAST-Jammu. Professor Sharma also inspectedprocessing of breeder seed of wheat varieties viz., HD-3237, HD-3271, WH-1105, WH1080, HPW-349, WB-2 and JAUW-584 which are suitable for cultivation in irrigated andrainfed areas of Jammu region.

Professor Sharma also visited breeder seed production plots of paddy variety Giza-14where Dr Anjani Singh, Dr Vishal Raina along with technical staff working in Mega seedproject had a healthy interaction. During the visit, Professor Sharma also planted asapling of almond in the premises of Integrated Farming System model.