Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 8: Coastal fishing communities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are receiving specialised training in seafood processing and value addition under the Climate Resilient Coastal Fishermen Villages (CRCFV) component of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with the programme aimed at strengthening livelihood opportunities through better post-harvest utilisation of fishery resources.
The Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration, has organised the training in technical collaboration with the National Institute of Fisheries Post Harvest Technology and Training (NIFPHATT), Cochin. The programme began at the Fish Landing Centre (FLC), Panighat, and will cover participants from identified CRCFV villages in South Andaman and North & Middle Andaman.
The training is being conducted from September 7 to 9 at Hope Town in South Andaman and will subsequently be held from September 11 to 13 at Durgapur in Diglipur. It will provide technical and practical exposure to seafood processing, product development, hygienic handling, quality assurance and other post-harvest practices.
The CRCFV initiative, launched by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, seeks to improve livelihood security and climate resilience among coastal fishing communities through skill development, diversified livelihood activities, sustainable fisheries practices and improved post-harvest management.
Hope Town and Junglighat in South Andaman district and Durgapur in North & Middle Andaman district have been selected for implementation of CRCFV activities in the Islands. The seafood training forms part of these activities, with a focus on value addition, reducing post-harvest losses and creating additional income-generation opportunities through small-scale processing and entrepreneurship.
The programme was inaugurated by Joint Director (Fisheries) K. Gopal in the presence of Zilla Parishad Member Hope Town V. K. Mariyam Bibi, Gram Panchayat Hope Town Pradhan Rasheeda Bibi and Panchayat Samiti Member Hope Town B. Laxmi Narayan. Mohammed Farooque, In-Charge of the Fish Landing Centre, Panighat, coordinated the programme with Sagar Mitras.
NIFPHATT officials Nithin C. T., Processing-cum-Quality Assurance Supervisor, and Bineesh K. Mukundan, Processing-cum-Quality Assurance Supervisor, are conducting the technical sessions.
The sessions cover preparation of at least 10 value-added seafood products, including breaded and battered products, pickles, fried products and different fish-based curries. Fish pickles, fish wafers, smoked fish, canned fish and ready-to-cook Tilapia curry were also displayed and demonstrated.
On the opening day, organisers distributed training manuals to all 25 participants to support learning and practical application of the techniques covered. PRI members appreciated the Department of Fisheries for bringing mainland technical experts to provide specialised hands-on training to the local fishing community.
