Honouring the Hands that Ensure the Nation’s Protein Security: ICAR-CIFRI Celebrates National Fish Farmers Day, Reaffirming Its Commitment to Blue Revolution 2.0

Barrackpore, July 2026 : Celebrating the invaluable contribution of India’s fish farmers to the nation’s food, nutrition and livelihood security, the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, observed National Fish Farmers Day 2026 with great enthusiasm on Friday. The event brought together policymakers, scientists, fishers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders to honour the pioneers of India’s fisheries sector while reaffirming the institute’s commitment to sustainable, climate-resilient inland fisheries through science and innovation.

National Fish Farmers Day commemorates the historic scientific breakthrough achieved on 10 July 1957, when the legendary fisheries scientist Prof. Hiralal Chaudhury and his team successfully developed the induced breeding technique for Indian major carps at Angul Fish Farm, Cuttack. The landmark achievement, accomplished under the then Central Inland Fisheries Research Station (now ICAR-CIFRI), revolutionised aquaculture in India and laid the foundation for the country’s first Blue Revolution.

The celebrations were inaugurated by Shri Rajesh Mahata, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Animal Resources Development & Fisheries, Government of West Bengal. Distinguished guests included Shri Yadav Suryabhan Achchhelal, IAS, Sub-Divisional Officer, Barrackpore, North 24 Parganas, and Dr. Tapas Ghosal, Head, ICAR-CIFE Regional Centre. More than 120 participants, including 49 women fishers and fish farmers, besides entrepreneurs, scientists and representatives of non-governmental organisations, attended the programme. ICAR-CIFRI also released several scientific publications on the occasion.

In recognition of excellence and innovation in inland fisheries, nine progressive fish farmers, including two women fishers, from West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh were felicitated for their outstanding contributions to the fisheries sector.

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Minister Shri Mahata ji called upon fish farmers to embrace modern technologies developed by ICAR-CIFRI and effectively leverage flagship initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). He emphasised that science-driven aquaculture, coupled with strong institutional support, will be instrumental in enhancing fish production, strengthening rural livelihoods and ensuring nutritional security while contributing to India’s economic growth. Commending the pioneering contributions of ICAR-CIFRI, he lauded the Institute’s sustained efforts in developing and disseminating innovative technologies, promoting sustainable inland fisheries and aquaculture, and empowering fish farmers across the country.

Shri Yadav appreciated ICAR-CIFRI’s sustained efforts in transferring cutting-edge technologies to fish farmers through research, extension and capacity-building initiatives. He underscored the importance of stronger collaboration among research institutions, government agencies and fishing communities to promote environmentally sustainable and economically viable fisheries development.

Dr. Ghoshal, underscored the importance of scientific innovation, technology dissemination and institutional collaboration in advancing sustainable fisheries development and improving fish farmers’ livelihoods.

Delivering the presidential address, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, highlighted the institute’s pioneering research on enhancing productivity in reservoirs and wetlands, river restoration, environmental flow requirements, aquatic biodiversity conservation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Describing National Fish Farmers Day as both a tribute to scientific excellence and the relentless dedication of India’s fish farmers, he said: “ICAR-CIFRI remains committed to developing climate-resilient, farmer-centric and ecosystem-based technologies that enhance productivity, conserve aquatic biodiversity and improve livelihoods. Through collaborative research, innovation and effective technology transfer, we will continue to strengthen India’s inland fisheries sector and contribute to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.”

Highlighting India’s remarkable fisheries growth story, officials noted that national fish production has more than doubled—from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, registering an impressive 106 per cent increase. Since 2014-15, initiatives of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, have generated 74.66 lakh direct and indirect employment opportunities, making fisheries one of the country’s fastest-growing agricultural sectors.

India today ranks as the world’s second-largest fish producer, contributing nearly 8 per cent of global fish production. The country is also the second-largest producer in aquaculture and capture fisheries, besides being the global leader in shrimp production and exports. With nearly 29,000 km of rivers, 0.20 million hectares of estuaries, 0.35 million hectares of wetlands, and 2.2 million hectares of ponds and tanks, India possesses immense untapped potential to achieve the target of 22 million tonnes of fish production under the proposed Second Blue Revolution.

Earlier in the day, a Scientist–Fisher Interaction Meeting, sponsored by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, provided a vibrant platform for fishers to interact directly with scientists, discuss field-level challenges and receive practical scientific solutions for enhancing productivity and sustainability. A “Creative Solutions Lab” was organised to identify convergence opportunities with ongoing Government missions and schemes for effective scaling, dissemination, and adoption of fisheries technologies. Emphasis was laid on sustainable inland fisheries management, promotion of climate-resilient technologies, stakeholder-oriented extension activities, entrepreneurship development, and innovation-driven fisheries interventions.

The celebrations commenced with a floral tribute to Prof. Hiralal Chaudhury and concluded with a collective resolve to strengthen partnerships among scientists, fishers, entrepreneurs and policymakers for building a prosperous, resilient and sustainable inland fisheries sector that supports the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.