CM Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurates first-ever Aqua Tech Park at Sonapur

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today inaugurated India’s first water technology park named ‘Aqua Tech Park,’ established through collaborative efforts at Bagibari Sonapur.

Set up by Kolong-Kapili in association with NABARD, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA), the Fishery Department, and the Selco Foundation, the Aqua Tech Park is the first of its kind in Assam. The park showcases advanced technologies in aquaponics, biofloc systems, modern fish production, ornamental fish breeding, and other innovative areas.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that the Aqua Tech park will aim at empowering fish farmers with knowledge of cutting-edge technologies that will enhance fish production and boost the income of the fish farmers. He also said that the park is a way forward to resurgent Assam and Atmanirbhar Assam.

Dr. Sarma said that Assam is a state rich in rivers. However, in spite of this, the state is dependent on states like Andhra Pradesh for meeting its fish demands. In this context, the initiative taken by Kolong-Kopili deserves accolades. He said that for the last decade and a half, Kolong-Kopili has been a source of inspiration to the youth across the state. He said that for the last 17 years, Kolong-Kopili, by rendering training to different stakeholders on modern techniques of fish production, has impacted the lives of the entrepreneurs and fish farmers of the state positively. By introducing innovation, Kolong-Kopili has added a new dimension to fish farming and the economy dependent on fish.

The Chief Minister said that in the year 2021, Kolong-Kopili, with assistance from ICAR and CIFR, started its aquaculture school and made an important contribution to fish farming, natural farming, fish fry production, and integrated agriculture systems, which led to the empowerment of thousands of youth. The Chief Minister expressed hope that the Aqua Tech Park would prove to be a boon to the farmers and other stakeholders. He also said that the Aqua Tech Park will also greatly boost fish production and provide ample earning opportunities to the fish farmers of Assam. This park will be a model of fisheries development in the state, the Chief Minister exhorted.

Stating that Assam holds tremendous possibility in the field of fishery, the Chief Minister said that between 2019 and 2024, Assam doubled its fish production to 4.99 lakh MT and became the fourth largest fish-producing state in India. The government, along with other stakeholders, is working dedicatedly to make Assam among the top five states in the country in every field.

The Chief Minister on the occasion said that the Rs. 800 crore ADB-assisted project has been initiated in the state to support the Sustainable Wetland and Integrated Fisheries Transformation Project. Moreover, the JICA-aided Rs. 250 crore project also helped in taking many other schemes for the development of the fishery sector in the state.

Dr. Sarma, moreover, said that with the synergy of the conventional agriculture system and modern technology, the state government in the current financial year created 10 fishery cluster development projects involving a financial outlay of Rs. 8 crore. Moreover, he said that the double-engine government has taken various steps to develop the fisheries sector in the state through schemes like PM Matsya Sampada Yojana and SWIFT, among others. With all these initiatives, the government is not just rejuvenating the fisheries sector in Assam but making it competitive nationally, Dr. Sarma added. This was stated in a press release.

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