The inauguration of the training program on “Sustainable Technologies for Management of Fishery Cooperatives” took place on January 8, 2024, at VAMNICOM, Pune. A total of 84 members, including board directors of fishery cooperatives and other stakeholders from Thane and Palghar districts, participated in the training program. Among them, more than 48 women cooperative members are benefiting from the training.
The five-day training program for Fish Cooperative Stakeholders will span from January 8, 2024, to January 12, 2024. The primary objectives of the training were to enhance the technical skills of women engaged in fish business from weaker sections.
The training aims to facilitate the adoption of modern technologies, strengthen and establish Fishermen Women Cooperative Societies/Fisher Farmer Producer Organizations (FFPOs), and promote integrated fisheries and value chain development.
The program’s inauguration was graced by the presence of Vijay Shikhare, Regional Deputy Commissioner, Department of Fisheries, Pune, (M.S.), R.K. Menon, Registrar, VAMNICOM, Dr. Shivaji Argade, Scientist, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai (M.S.), and faculty members of VAMNICOM.
During the inaugural address, R.K. Menon welcomed the dignitaries and trainees from the Thane and Palghar District Fish Cooperative Federations. He explored new business models that can be encouraged alongside existing traditional practices, emphasizing the importance of institutional building from Primary fish cooperatives to Fish Cooperative Federations in balancing the socio-economic attributes of stakeholders in the fish ecosystem.
Vijay Shikhare provided brief information about various subsidiary schemes supporting infrastructure and market development within the fish ecosystem. He highlighted the advantages of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and its implications for grassroots development of fish cooperative societies.
Dr. Y.S. Patil, Associate Professor at VAMNICOM, emphasized the significance of fishery cooperative members and their scarcity across the nation. He advocated for the frequent organization of such training programs to encourage stakeholder participation and diversification of the fish ecosystem.
Dr. Amit Borkar, Training Programme Coordinator, gave preliminary information about the five-day training program and its benefits to stakeholders. The Vote of thanks was delivered by Dr. Mahesh Kadam, Associate Professor & Joint Training Coordinator, who expressed gratitude to Director, VAMNICOM, Dr. Hema Yadav, for providing the opportunity, necessary guidance, and direction for executing the training program.
Thanks, were also extended to officials from the Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE), Mumbai, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Marine Fisheries Institute (ICAR-CMFRI), and National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) for sharing technical know-how and providing funding assistance for the training program.