Agriculture

On the way for harvesting fish. Copyright: SAFAL/Baanyan Tree Productions Pvt Ltd

Bio security measures (liming) at fishpond. Copyright: SAFAL/Baanyan Tree Productions Pvt Ltd

Training on sustainable aquaculture for development of Community Resource Person (CRP). Copyright: SAFAL/Baanyan Tree Productions Pvt Ltd

Key outputs are an increased production of fish from sustainable aquaculture and the associated increase in income and jobs in selected value chain. The political and institutional framework conditions for the implementation of sustainable and resource-saving aquaculture shall be improved.

The module of the Global Programme for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture (GP Fish) will support small farmers, public and private service providers and other actors in the value chain (e.g., hatcheries, feed producers, fish traders) in the states of Assam and Odisha. The planned module increases the availability of fish for the nutritionally insecure population through sustainable aquaculture in small-scale pond farming. The promotion of Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs), in which small-scale producers are organized, improves access to knowledge (technical and business management), resources (fingerlings and feed) and financial services. The module also supports the political partner’s objectives of organising small producers in FPOs and increasing aquaculture production. Sustainable aquaculture as a commercial activity creates jobs and income opportunities in rural areas. At the political level, the module promotes dialogue and knowledge exchange in the sector to support the sustainable development of aquaculture through an appropriate policy framework and to prevent potential negative social and environmental impacts. Key outputs are an increased production of fish from sustainable aquaculture and the associated increase in income and demand for labour. The political and institutional framework conditions for the implementation of sustainable and resource-saving aquaculture shall be improved.

• Sustainable and resource efficient aquaculture
• Agroecology
• Strengthening farmer institution
• Training methodology
• Sustainable business model
• Knowledge products development
• Aquaculture entrepreneurship

Fresh water fish farmers

• Training on sustainable aquaculture
• Training on didactic methodologies
• Integration of Decentralised Renewable Energy solutions in Sustainable Aquaculture practices
• Policy advice on sustainable aquaculture
• Set-up and management of Multi-Stakeholder-Platform
• Co-creation of knowledge products and Information Education Communication (IEC) material
• Development of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) (natural)- fresh water pond aquaculture
• Community Resource Person (CRP) identification and selection
• Implementation of Aquaculture Business School
• Aqua entrepreneurship development
• Gender sensitization among CRPs
• Promotion of a Gender transformation approach

• Farm record book
• Poster1_Pond Construction
• Poster2_Sustainble Vs Non Sustainable
• Poster4_Fish as Superfood
• Poster 5_Fish Hatchery
• Fish Diseases
• Species wise Identification of Fish Seed
• Do’s & Don’ts in Sustainable Aquaculture
• Environment Effects
• Pond Construction
• Transportation of Seed
• Hatchery
• Quality Brood Stock
• Pond Environment
• Feed Management
• Hatchery Operations
• Dos Donts Hatchery
• Hatchery Economics

Pioneering the path towards sustainable aquaculture
Name: Kalyani Deka

Women empowerment through inclusive training on sustainable aquaculture in Darrang District, Assam
A resident and member of Nabajyoti SHG in Daha village of Darrang District, Assam, Kalyani Deka is involved in various livelihood activities and currently is a role model for many. Like many others in her village, Kalyani too constructed a farm pond for fishing under MGNREGA in 2021. However, she was unable to utilise it with the limited traditional knowledge she had along with her family members. She was looking for opportunities to improve her pond farming practices when she came to know about various trainings on sustainable aquaculture under the Indo-German development cooperation project ‘Sustainable Aquaculture for Food and Livelihood (SAFAL)’ implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

After receiving training on sustainable aquaculture as FCRP (Fish Community Resource Person) under SAFAL project, Kalyani renovated her farm pond, lime, manure and added fish fingerlings as per the standard norms of sustainable aquaculture. Soon, she was able to start the entrepreneurship model of selling fingerlings among her cluster members, while training 24 women farmers on sustainable aquaculture practices.

Kalyani is continuously motivating other farmers to adopt aquaculture as a means of livelihood and says “This is just the beginning and we believe that with time, the farmers will become more confident and technically sound towards sustainable aquaculture.”

Strengthening himself and his community through science.
Name: Rajiba Nanada Gohain

Training in Biswanath Chariali district is bringing the sustainable aquaculture practice among traditional fish farmers

Rajiba Nanada Gohain has been involved in fish farming but could practice it partially because of insufficient knowledge on the subject. He wanted to improve the condition of his pond and boost his revenue stream by means of reasonable fish production. Through his Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) in Biswanath Chariali district, he came to know about the fishery training programme under the Indo-German development cooperation project ‘Sustainable Aquaculture for Food and Livelihood’ (SAFAL) implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the local NGO Kalong-Kapili.

Equipped with the scientific knowledge of pond management practices, Rajiba gained the confidence to put his learnings to use. He utilized the inputs from the training such as proper use of the Water Testing Kit Boxes along with the dos and don’ts of sustainable aquaculture practices. Soon, he formed a cluster of 15 members from his FPO to practice and disseminate what he learned as well as promote sustainable aquaculture. The switch to the use of good quality seeds helped the cluster members to improve the water quality of the ponds including the fish growth, without additional financial burden.

Rajiba says, “The training programme showed us the way to have a good grasp on aquaculture, which was much needed for the development of the community and would help them to bring more production leading to greater success in the near future”. He is hopeful to make a good profit soon due to enhanced and quality fish production.

Prosperity through sustainable aquaculture and training success.
Name:  Mukunda Chetry

Training of CRP and training adoption brings considerable changes in output of the sustainable aquaculture business.

Mukunda Chetry is the sole provider for his family and engaged in various agricultural activities including fish farming in his 0.5 bigha area pond. In 2021, he participated the training program under the Indo-German development cooperation project ‘Sustainable Aquaculture for Food and Livelihood’ (SAFAL) implemented by GIZ India in cooperation with the local NGO, Kalong-Kapili through his Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO).

Mukunda used to release various types and quantities of fish seeds indiscriminately into the same pond along with leftover rice, urea and supplementary feeds. Despite feeding the fish 3-4 times daily, the growth was limited to 600-700 grams per year, with a total production of 50-60 kilograms. After completing the 18 days training, he immediately applied his newfound knowledge such as preparing natural feed and feeding twice daily using rice bran, mustard oil cake.

He also constructed an additional pond area of 0.5 bigha in April 2023, bringing his total fish farming area to 1 bigha. Mukunda happily shares that his current fish production surpasses that of the previous year. The fishes grown upto 1.5-2 kilograms avg. size and sold a total of 200-220 kilograms of fish to a local vendor, earning more than 50,000 rupees from a single stock.

Mr. Chetry says, “Fish Farming is less time-consuming compared to other crops, and it allows for higher profits at a lower cost if you know the know-how, which is possible through suitable training as an example- SAFAL GIZ training.” Today, he oversees 15 cluster members and plans to expand his fish culture ponds.