Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 16: The three days training programme on ‘Fish Value Addition’ organized by Department of Fisheries in association with Dr. B R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT), Dollygunj concluded today at AV Hall, DBRAIT. Ms. Jyoti Kumari, IAS, Secretary (Fisheries) was the chief guest during the valedictory session.
Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary (Fisheries) expressed her happiness on the participation of Islanders in the training programme and informed the gathering that this initiative of the Department of Fisheries will add up to the overall developmental initiative of A&N Administration in the field of marine resource utilization, seafood processing and its marketing. She urged the participants to utilize the training for creating their own business enterprises. She also congratulated the Department of Fisheries and Hotel Management Department, DBRAIT for conducting such unique training in utilizing the fisheries potential and entrepreneurship opportunities of the Islands. She motivated the trainees to plan business models based on the experience earned in the training for making various products from fish and shell fishes and extended all support for creating such facilities.
Ms. Jagtap Kalyani Rajendra, Director of Fisheries motivated the participants to become independent business women and to create mobile sea food vans/seafood kiosk and value-added unit by availing financial assistance under PMMSY. The Department of Fisheries is providing subsidy assistance @60 % for Women applicants and 40% for General category for commencing these activities.
The trainees also shared their experience and feedback during the programme and expressed their gratitude in imparting detailed theoretical and practical training programmes and encouraging them to establish their own enterprises in the form of Dry Fish Unit, Fish Pickling Unit, Coated Fish Product Units, Frozen/Chilled Fish Units etc. The Certificate of Participation was also distributed to the trainees by the Secretary (Fisheries) on the occasion.
In addition to the hands-on training on preparation of fish value added products, a special session was also organized in participation of officials of Industries Department, Food Safety Department, and Cooperative Department to create awareness on schemes of food processing, registration of food service establishments and importance of forming cooperatives societies. Dr. V. Alagusundaram, HoD, Computer Science and Engineering Department, DBRAIT, Dr. K Gopal, Joint Director (Fisheries) and Mr. S.U Maheswar Rao, Governing Body Member of NFDB also addressed the gathering.
