KOCHI, 15 January 2019 : An international workshop on fisheries and aquaculture got underway at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) on Tuesday with a call to formulate game-changing policies to develop the fisheries sector in Afro-Asian countries.
The 15-day workshop is aimed at training officials from 12 member countries of the African Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO).
Speaking on the inauguration of the workshop, Dr Manoj Nardeo Singh, Assistant Secretary General of the AARDO said agriculture would need to produce 60% more food globally by 2050 and 100% more in developing countries using the same limited available natural resources.
In order to meet growing demand for food and nutritional security, the developing countries in Afro-Asian regions would require to formulate comprehensive policies and develop adequate technologies in fisheries sector, he said.
“Fisheries and aquaculture can generate food, nutrition, income and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people around the world. Fish and seafood are important source of nutrition and health for many coastal communities”, he said.
K S Srinivas, Chairman of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), who inaugurated the workshop said the focus of exports should be expanded into many African countries too. “Europe, US, Japan and China apart, there is ample scope for marine product export to African nations and other Asian countries”, he said.
Dr T V Saththianandan presided over. Dr Imelda Joseph and Dr Boby Ignatius spoke on the occasion.
As many as 14 participants from Oman, Lebanon, Taiwan, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Libya, Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are attending the 15-day workshop. The trainees will be imparted training in areas such as marine fisheries assessment, fish stock estimation, marine fisheries environment, impact of climate change on fisheries, responsible fisheries and mariculture activities like cage farming, along with practical sessions. They will be provided opportunity to visit harbours to have experience in real time data collection.
The African Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO) is an inter-governmental organisation in the field of agricultural and rural development with its headquarters in New Delhi. Currently 33 member countries from Africa and Asia are part of AARDO.
