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ICAR-CIFT bags Outstanding ICAR Institution Award for the third time

New Delhi: ICAR- Central Institute of Fisheries Technology under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research has been conferred with the most prestigious Sardar Patel Outstanding ICAR Institution Awardfor the year 2018for its commendable scientific contributions in the fields of fish harvesting, processing, packaging, quality assurance, nutraceuticals, fish waste utilization, biotechnological applications etc. The institute was honoured with this coveted award for the third time, after2000 and 2006, for its excellent track record in R&D endeavours and extensions activities in harvest and post-harvest fisheries. This award instituted by ICAR, was bestowed based on the performance of the institute, scientific/technological/socio-economic profiles and overall impact of the research outputs for the economic and societal development. On 16th July 2019, during the 91st ICAR Foundation Day Celebrations at New Delhi Dr. Ravishankar C.N., Director, ICAR-CIFT received this coveted award from Shri. Narendra Singh Tomar, Hon’ble Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Govt. of India in presence of Union Ministers of State for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Shri. Parshottam Rupala and Shri. Kailash Choudhary; Shri B.D. Sharma, M Pand Dr. Trilochan Mohapatra, Secretary, Dare and Director General, ICAR.

During the last 62 years of its fruitful existence, ICAR- CIFT has proven its excellence in the modernization of both harvest and post-harvest sectors in fisheries and is renowned for its high calibre and innovative research activities, partnerships, capacity building programmes and entrepreneurship promotion for the betterment of fisheries sector. The Institute has always been responsive to the dynamic changes that takes place in the fisheries sector and has endeavoured to reframe the strategies and fine-tune the research framework in order to address the emerging challenges.

ICAR-CIFT has received NABL Accreditation (ISO 17025) in 2005, and ISO 9001:2008 certification in 2013. Its recognition as a National Referral Laboratory as well as National Reference Laboratory for fish and fish based products by FSSAI under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India has added a feather to its cap. The significant achievements of the Institute have been contributed to the overall development of the fisheries industry in India, including marine, inland capture and seafood processing sectors with successful dissemination of need-based technology through skill based trainings and demonstrations.

ICAR-CIFT also garnered nation-wide attention, with its new invention ‘CIFTest Kit’– the rapid detection kit for Ammonia and Formaldehyde contamination in fishes that hogged the limelight as the most disruptive technology and played a significant role in Operation Sagar Rani, initiated by Kerala State Health and Safety Department and other similar operations carried out by Governments of Goa, Karnataka, TN, AP, Odisha, Gujarat, WB and many North-Eastern states. The institute has been in news for its promising technologies like energy efficient solar powered boat and solar dryers. Recently, in association with the central sector schemes on Blue Revolution and Make in India, ICAR-CIFT, Cochin has initiated the design and construction of commercial fishing vessels adhering to international standards in collaboration with Cochin Shipyard Ltd. that cater the requirements of governments of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Kerala and Andaman & Nicobar Administration. ICAR-CIFT has developed different craft, gear and fishing methods for the marine and inland sectors, with emphasis on resource conservation and sustainability besides energy conservation and thereby increasing the productivity and thus playing a major role in the modernization of the sector. The institute was instrumental in bringing out BIS standards for fish netting yarns and various fishing gears.

ICAR-CIFT has also been engaged in developing value added products (including ready-to-cook and eat products), by products (including high-value ones) from fish and shellfish and developing appropriate packaging for the same. The Institute has also given technical help in establishing and modernizing domestic fish markets including fish waste management which has been taken up by various State agencies through National Fisheries Development Board funding. In addition, the institute has an Agri Business Incubation (ABI) Centre for developing new business ventures in fish-prenureship through pro-active business support services.

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