MPEDA has always been in the forefront to encourage promising and potential stakeholders in the fields of Aquaculture, Hatchery operations and Ornamental fish breeding. Aqua Aquaria India, a biennial mega event, is being  organized by MPEDA to promote diversification and intensification of aquaculture and aquariculture in a sustainable manner. MPEDA follow the tradition to honour outstanding farmers in recognition of their achievements in various categories during Aqua Aquaria India event. Let us have a glimpse of Award winners of the Aqua Aquaria India 2019 held at HITEX exhibition center Hyderabad from 30th August to 1st September 2019.

• Successful new tiger shrimp farmer

 Shri. P.K. Hormis Tharakan, a Former IPS Officer and Former Chief of Research & Analysis Wing (R&AW) from a farmer family and who is  now a successful shrimp aquaculture farmer in  Alapuzha district of Kerala received the award.

• Best Society farmer

A farmer from West Goadavari district of  Andhra Pradesh and a member of MPEDA Aqua Farmers’ Welfare society, Shri.K.R. K. Murthy Raju won the award. He could achieve 8 tonne production (32 count) from 1 acre pond installed with auto feeder, blowers and sludge motors. Surprisingly, he follows Clearwater culture with no other applications except potassium chloride.

• Best Tiger shrimp (Scientific culture) farmer

An inspiration to farmers in Kerala, Shri Vinukuttan from Kollam district of Kerala won the title. He is engaged in P. Monodon culture for the last 25 years and attained productivity of 4.2 MT/Ha.

The title was shared by Shri Sagar S Tandel, a farmer from Valsad district of Gujarat He is consistent in the aquaculture of Black tiger and L. Vannamei for the last eight years with no occurrence of diseases.  

• Best Tiger Shrimp (Traditional Organic) farmer

The title was won by Sri Apurba Saha from West Bengal. He is engaged in traditional mode of black tiger culture since 1995 and is involved in organic shrimp group farming since 2011. His farms are ceritified by Naturland and Control Union.

• Best L. Vannamei shrimp farmer

An experienced aquaculturist from Andhra Pradesh, Shri Sekhar Rao Sankineni  was honoured with the Best L. Vannamei shrimp farmer award. He operates a Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certified farm and he has 25 years of experience in aquaculture.

• Best Tilapia(GIFT-Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia) farmer

Shri. Saurav Kumar Biswal from Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha received the award for achieving successful productivity of 10 MT/Ha for three years consecutively. With the experience gained, he works as Consultant for the tilapia farmers in the state under World Fish Project.

• Best Seabass farmer

Shri. Seshayya P from Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh received the award in this category. He is a pioneer in seabass aquaculture in the country  to achieve a production of 17 tonnes of Seabass from two acres  pond.

• Best farmer in the category ‘ Open water Cage farming of finfish’

Shri Jenson in Thrissur district of Kerala was honoured for successfully carrying out open water cage culture of fin fishes like Seabass, Grouper, Pearl spot, Red snapper etc. He carried out the Cobia culture in Open cages in commercial scale, the first of its kind in the country.

• Best Mud crab farmer

An aquaculturist from Nagapattinam district of Tamil nadu, Shri Ilenchelian K who is in the field for the last three decades was awarded with the title. He has been successful in carrying out crab culture in tide fed flow through system with mangroves planted along the bunds.