Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, has urged the scientists to focus on farmer-oriented research activities to improve the agriculture sector of the country.

He was speaking at an interface meeting with the directors and scientists of the institutes in Kochi under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare at the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) here.

“Scientists should always think for the farmer who is the cornerstone of agriculture sector," he said, adding that long-term planning is required to formulate developmental projects aimed at boosting the production in the country.

The minister lauded the efforts of CMFRI scientists for their contributions in sea cage farming, technology development of the species such as cobia, silver pompano, and orange spotted groupers. The National Brood Bank set up by CMFRI is an important step in increasing the fish production in the country, he added.

A Gopalakrishnan, Director, CMFRI, said that a Mariculture Policy should be formulated to regulate sea cage farming. CMFRI has already transferred the technology of sea cage farming into farmers. Adequate hatcheries and nurseries should also be set up in order to extend the cage farming method into more areas.

Directors and scientists from CIFT, NIPHATT, CIFNET, Fishery Survey of India, Coconut Development Board, Plant Quarantine Information System, Spices Board, Directorate of Cashew Nut and Cocoa Development, NBFGR and CMFRI attended the meeting.

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