THE DAILY TELEGRAMS / aug. 10, 2005
Sea water ingression into farmland; CARI scientists assess its impact,
explores aquaculture prospects

Port Blair, Aug 07

A team of Fisheries scientists from Central Agricultural Research
Institute during its 5-day visit to Middle and North Andaman recently
assessed the impact of seawater ingression into the agricultural fields,
which was caused by the subduction of land during the earthquake and tsunami
on Dec 26, 2004, led to subsequent rise in sea level. The team also
undertook study asses the impact of training of Brackish water Aquaculture
on the farmers of Andamans. The training was held at Central Agricultural
Research Institute, during 6th to 9th Dec, 2004.

It was observed that at Sabri, under Rangat Tehsil, a Self Help Group was
formed by the trainees who under went training on Brackish water
aquaculture. They have constructed a 1.0 ha farm which was stocked with
mullet, tiger prawn and mud crab for culture / fattening purpose. The group
utilized the knowledge gained in the training programme as well as technical
advice given by CARI and started extensive farming practice, a CARI release
said here.

According to this, the team also noticed that newly transplanted paddy
crops have been damaged at Dashrathpur area following this ingression of
saline water. These areas can also be utilized economically for brackish
water pisciculture. In this regard, CARI will approach shrimp Hatchery
owners in the island through Deptt. of Fisheries of A&N Administration for
raising and supply of the post larvae of Tiger shrimp to the farmers.

At Kadamtala, KVK-CARI organized training on Carp Breeding and seed
rearing and mud crab culture from 26th July 2005 for the youth of the SHG as
also for the user groups of National Micro Watershed Association at
Kadamtala. After the training, three groups have been formed as Das
Associations for Brackish water poly culture, SHG for crab fattening at
Bamboo Tikri and SHG for freshwater fish farming at Kadamtala under the
watershed programme of GoI.

Similarly two more such groups for freshwater aquaculture have initiated
their farm construction work at Deshbandhu Gram and Shivpur at Diglipur,
North Andaman. Further technical guidance and farm advisory services at site
to all these groups are provided by CARI and KVK for better prosperity of
fisheries development in the island, the release added.