Ministry of Earth Sciences Hosts National Media Interaction on 'Mission Mausam' The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) held a national-level media interaction on the ambitious Mission Mausam at Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi. The session was led by Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of MoES, alongside Dr. Mritunjay Mohapatra, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), and Dr. V.S. Prasad, Head of the National Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF). Approved by the Union Cabinet on September 11, 2024, with a budget of ₹2,000 crores over two years, Mission Mausam aims to transform India into a "Weather-Ready" and "Climate-Smart" nation. The mission focuses on advancing the country's weather and climate observation, modeling, and forecasting capabilities, to provide more accurate and timely services. Key Objectives of Mission Mausam: Develop Cutting-Edge Technologies: Introduce next-generation radars, satellites with advanced instr...
Today, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and Panchayati Raj, launched the "Amrit Catla," a genetically enhanced variety of Catla (Labeo catla), at the ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) in Bhubaneswar. This development marks a major milestone in freshwater aquaculture, reflecting a significant effort to improve fish seed quality for India's growing fish farming community. The National Freshwater Fish Brood Bank (NFFBB) of the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) will handle the distribution of Amrit Catla, ensuring its availability to farmers across the country.
The journey to develop Amrit Catla began in 2010 with ICAR-CIFA’s selective breeding program aimed at enhancing the body weight of Catla at harvest. The program involved collecting nine strains of Catla from various states including West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. These strains served as the foundation for the breeding program, which employed the Combined Family Selection method guided by phenotypic data and microsatellite markers. Over four generations, this process resulted in a 15% genetic gain per generation, culminating in a cumulative gain of 35% by the third generation. Field trials in Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, and Maharashtra demonstrated that the improved Catla could achieve an average weight of 1.8 kg in polyculture systems within a year, compared to just 1.2 kg for local strains.
The "Amrit Catla" project recently received national acclaim with the Best Technology Award at the 96th ICAR Foundation and Technology Day on July 16, 2024, and was officially trademarked as "CIFA-Amrit Catla" on August 1, 2024.
In his address, Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh underscored the Ministry's commitment to advancing research initiatives and supporting the fisheries sector. He assured continued substantial support for research efforts to drive sustainable growth and enhanced productivity. Additionally, he highlighted the recent designation of ICAR-CIFA as the Nucleus Breeding Center for freshwater fishes, reinforcing its pivotal role in developing high-quality fish seed in India.
The launch event was attended by Shri George Kurian, Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Minority Affairs, along with senior officials and stakeholders from the fisheries sector. The introduction of Amrit Catla signifies the government's dedication to improving aquaculture practices, ensuring a steady supply of quality fish seed, and boosting the national fish farming industry.
Comments