Hon’ble Union Minister Shri George Kurian visits ICAR-CMFRI

Shri. George Kurain, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Minority Affairs visited ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR CMFRI), Kochi on 22nd August 2025. He chaired an important meeting to explore the potential of integrated fish cultivation for Kerala’s Kuttanad. This unique farming system holds immense potential for increasing food production and farmer income.

Hon’ble Minister announced a new pilot project aimed at boosting livelihood opportunities for fish farmers in the region. This initiative is a step towards combining the traditional agricultural practices of Kuttanad with modern integrated farming techniques to ensure both food and nutritional security. As part of the project, Fish Farmers Producers Organizations (FFPOs) will be formed to empower local communities and streamline operations.

Hon’ble Minister stated that enhancing livelihood for the region’s farmers is the primary goal of the initiative. Scientists from ICAR-CMFRI are part of the expert team tasked with assessing the situation and developing a detailed project report for the pilot project.

Shri. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Union Minister, Dr Dr Mohammed Koya, Fisheries Development Commissioner, Government of India; Dr Grinson George, Director ofICAR-CMFRI and representatives from ICAR institutes, government agencies and KVKs were present at the meeting.