Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairies Giriraj Singh set afloat a mobile application ‘Matsya Setu’ to spread information regarding the latest technologies related to freshwater aquaculture to the country’s aqua farmers.

ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA), Bhubaneshwar has developed the app through the funding that it received from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB).

The app provides species and subject-wise self-learning online course modules in which eminent aquaculture experts describe about the basic concepts and practical demonstrations related to breeding, seed production and also the grow-out culture of fishes that are important from the commercial viewpoint such as murrel, scampi, pearl farming, ornamental fish, carp, catfish etc.

Moreover, the platform also hosts the necessary information about enhanced management practices that are required to sustain the quality of soil and water along with feeding and health management in aquaculture operation.

Individuals can obtain an e-certificate upon successfully completing the course and farmers have also been provided with a mechanism through which their doubts can be addressed and they can receive particular advisories from the subject experts.

The Union Minister said that ramping up the capacity of fish farmers is essential to drive the technology-led development of aquaculture in the country, Economic Times reports.