Empowering Communities Through Aquaculture: CIFRI’s SCSP Initiative Supports SDG Goals in South 24 Parganas

Aug 2025 : In a landmark initiative aimed at rural economic upliftment, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI) has been actively promoting backyard pond fish culture across South 24 Parganas for over a decade.

Recognising the dual utility of household ponds for drinking water and fish farming, the Institute has empowered local communities, especially women to transform these rain-fed water bodies into sustainable sources of income and nutrition.

On 23 August, 2025, ICAR-CIFRI, in collaboration with Sasya Shyamala Krishi Vigyan Kendra, RKMVERI, South 24 Parganas, organised a mass awareness programme under the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP). The event saw the distribution of fisheries inputs to 350 Scheduled Caste rural villagers from eleven villages of Sonarpur Block, each owning ponds ranging from 0.02 to 0.04 hectare.

During the coveted community development programme, each beneficiary received 08 kilograms of fish seed (Indian Major Carp) and 120 kilograms of fish feed to initiate backyard pond fish culture.

Dr. B. K. Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, sensitised the gathering on inland open water fisheries and emphasised the long-term benefits of backyard pond culture in enhancing livelihoods and nutritional security.

Mrs. Lalita Bar, Panchayat Pradhan addressed the gathering and praised the ICAR-CIFRI initiative for empowering rural women by improving livelihood through demonstration of various fisheries technology.

The programme demonstrated a deep rooted resonance with the beneficiaries. “I never imagined our small pond could become a source of income”, said Parbati Purkait from Sonarpur.

Another participant, Bablu Mondal, shared, “This initiative has given us hope. We now understand how fish farming can improve our children’s nutrition and help us earn without leaving our homes”.

The programme not only distributed resources but have also culminated knowledge and confidence among the women, many of whom had never engaged in structured fish farming before. By integrating scientific practices with traditional knowledge, ICAR-CIFRI’s initiative is paving the way for a resilient rural economy. The backyard pond fish culture model stands as a testament to how small-scale interventions, when backed by research and community engagement, can yield transformative results. Scientist Farmer interaction resolved several issues and reflected a broader narrative of empowerment, sustainability and hope.

Team Maverick