ICAR-CCARI, Goa hosted a stakeholder interface meeting to promote ornamental fish farming and initiate the formation of a cooperative society, recently at Old Goa. Around 15 ornamental fish farmers from across Goa, attended the meeting.
Trivesh Mayekar, Scientist (FGB), welcomed the participants and emphasised the sector’s potential in Goa. He highlighted the benefits of a cooperative model for sustainable growth and guided farmers on its formation, urging them to submit personal and operational details. He encouraged identification of areas needing government support, such as broodstock development, hatchery infrastructure, and live feed production. He also advised exploring financial and technical assistance from NABARD, MPEDA, and other agencies, and stressed the need for community awareness, school programs, exposure visits, and participation in trade expos.
Dr. Sreekanth G.B., Senior Scientist (FRM), shared practical insights on small-scale ornamental farming, citing a successful guppy seed production case using silpaulin tanks. The importance of using high-quality SPF broodstock and maintaining purity in the first generation was emphasised.
A farmer raised concerns about reliance on wild-caught fish for the local market despite exports. Mayekar suggested promoting an indigenous ornamental species from Goa, similar to Kerala’s “Miss Kerala”. The meeting concluded with strong interest from farmers in forming a cooperative. ICAR-CCARI assured continued technical and institutional support. The session was coordinated by Trivesh Mayekar, Dr. G.B. Sreekanth, and Harshvardhan Shetye of ICAR-CCARI.
