Training programs

MPEDA organizes training programs of 3-5 days duration on sustainable shrimp aquaculture and diversification for the benefit of farmers, members of SC/ST communities and to individuals who wish to take up aquaculture. The farmers who are already in the business of aquaculture are given 3-days training for educating them on the sustainable farming practices, Better Management Practices and on the farming technology of potential species for diversified aquaculture. Members of SC/ST communities are given 5-day training programs on sustainable shrimp/prawn culture so as to enable them to take up shrimp culture as a means of self employment or to get employed in shrimp farms of other farmers, thereby earning a livelihood.

Farmers’s Meet

One day farmers’ meets are organized by the field offices of MPEDA covering different farming regions. The farmers’ meets provide platforms for the farmers to raise their problems which require the attention of the government as well as to discuss various technical issues faced the farmers. In the farmers’ meet technical experts provide new insights to the farmers about the technical aspects of their day to day farming activities. The forum also provides opportunity for the farmers to exchange their experiences among themselves and with the officials and technical personnel.

Awareness Progress

Awareness programs are usually half-a-days duration programs in which small gatherings of farmers are organized to put across new ideas, new schemes, new developments in the field of aquaculture etc. Such programs are organized on a village-wise basis. Campaigns against the use of antibiotics in aquaculture, campaigns availability of opportunities for pursuing diversified aquaculture etc., for example form the object of awareness programs.

Interstate Study Tour

Field offices of MPEDA organize inter-state study tours for farmers. In these programs farmers are taken from states where they are engaged in aquaculture activities to other coastal states on study tours. The farmers get an opportunity to visit farms, hatcheries, feed mills etc and learn about the practices followed in the states they visit. The program also provides the farmers with the opportunity to interact with farmers and entrepreneurs of other states and learn about their experiences. The visiting farmers also contribute to the knowledge of the farmers of the visiting states.

Demonstration program

New farming technologies developed or adopted for culture of a particular candidate species is popularized among the public by organizing demonstration programs. Culture techniques for commercial farming of Seabass, Tilapia, mangrove crab etc. are carried out with the object of transfer of technology to farmers. MPEDA field offices organize demonstration programs in farmer’s ponds thereby enabling the farmers to imbibe the nuances of commercial culture of the export oriented species. The program not only benefits the owner of the farm in which the demonstration is organized but also to neighbouring farmers and other farmers visiting the demonstration programs.