District Level Awareness Program on PMMSY, FIDF and LIFIC Organised at CAU–CAEPHT, Ranipool
Gangtok, 11th March 2026:
The Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, in collaboration with the NCDC–LINAC Regional Training Center, Kolkata, successfully organised a District Level Awareness Program on Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure and Development Fund (FIDF) and LINAC-NCDC Fisheries Business Incubation Center (LIFIC) at the Auditorium Hall of CAU–CAEPHT, Ranipool today.
The programme was attended by several distinguished guests and officials from the fisheries sector, academia and allied institutions. The dignitaries present on the stage included Dr. A. K. Pandey, Dean, CAU–College of Agricultural Engineering and Post Harvest Technology (CAEPHT), Ranipool (Chief Guest); Mrs. Roshni Rai, Secretary, Fisheries Department (Guest of Honour); Shri Sanjeev Karmakar, Executive Assistant, NCDC, Kolkata; Dr. Prakash Sharma, Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ranipool; and Dr. Mandar Sen Gupta, Head of the Department of Zoology, SRM University Sikkim. Among the other officials present during the programme were Dr. Karma Doma Bhutia, Additional Director, Fisheries Department; Dr. Rinchen Ongmo Bhutia, Joint Director, Fisheries Department; Shri Naresh Sunar, Assistant Director, Fisheries Department; Shri Sudipta Mondal, Deputy Regional Manager, Growel Feeds Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Dhurbojoti Panga, Growel Feeds Pvt. Ltd.; Shri Debnath Roy, Programme Officer, NCDC, Kolkata; and Shri Idol Chakma, Administrative Officer, Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd.
The program also witnessed enthusiastic participation from fish farmers from various parts of Gangtok District, along with students from Nar Bahadur Bhandari Government Degree College, Tadong; Medhavi University; SRM University; and CAU–CAEPHT, Ranipool, providing a valuable platform for interaction among farmers, academicians, researchers and departmental officials.
During the programme, fisheries equipment such as hand nets, fish transportation boxes, water testing kits and plastic crates were distributed to 30 beneficiaries supported by ICAR–CICFR, Bhimtal, aimed at strengthening aquaculture activities at the grassroots level. In addition, fish seed was distributed to 30 beneficiaries under the Mukhya Mantri Matsya Utpadan Yojana (MMMUY) to support fish farming activities and increase fish production in the district.
Mrs. Roshni Rai, Secretary, Fisheries Department, Government of Sikkim, who attended the programme as the Guest of Honour, emphasised the vital role of fish farmers in enhancing fish production in the state and strengthening the fisheries sector as an important source of livelihood. She encouraged farmers to adopt improved aquaculture practices and take full advantage of the various schemes being implemented by the government.
She further highlighted an important initiative of the Fisheries Department to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) for the supply and marketing of fish produced by local fish farmers. This initiative, she noted, would provide a reliable institutional market for fish farmers and contribute towards strengthening the value chain and improving farmers’ income.
Dr. A. K. Pandey, Dean, CAU–CAEPHT, Ranipool, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and spoke on the growing importance of the fisheries sector both at the national level and within the state of Sikkim. He highlighted the significant contribution of fisheries towards food security, nutrition, employment generation and rural economic development.
Dr. Pandey also emphasised the nutritional benefits of fish consumption, describing fish as a rich source of high-quality protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that are important for maintaining good health. He encouraged farmers and aspiring entrepreneurs to recognise the immense potential of the fisheries sector and to work collectively towards harnessing its benefits for economic growth and livelihood improvement. He also appreciated the efforts of the Fisheries Department and partner institutions in organising such awareness programmes for capacity building and knowledge dissemination among farmers and students.
The programme also included a technical session where experts from various institutions delivered presentations on key aspects of aquaculture development. Topics covered included the role of NCDC and LIFIC, challenges and prospects of organic aquaculture in Sikkim, support schemes implemented by the Fisheries Department, aquaculture insurance, importance of quality aquaculture feed for higher productivity and farm profitability, and the cultural and ecological significance of Tshetar and fish life release in Sikkim.
The awareness programme served as an important knowledge-sharing platform for fish farmers, students, academicians and stakeholders, promoting greater awareness of government schemes, modern aquaculture practices and opportunities for cooperative-led development in the fisheries sector.