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ICAR-CIFRI initiates cage culture of pabda (Ompok bimaculatus) in Dumbur reservoir, Tripura

24^th June, 2025

ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), Barrackpore, in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Government of Tripura, has initiated the cage culture of high-value butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (pabda), in Dumbur reservoir, located in the Dhalai district of Tripura. This initiative, undertaken under the NFDB-sponsored project, aims to scale up the cage culture of this commercially important species to enhance profitability and promote adoption in the inland open water system. Cage culture technology developed by ICAR-CIFRI is gaining significant momentum from State and Central agencies with installations and demonstrations spanning across several wetlands and reservoirs, including Dumbur reservoir of Tripura, where reportedly, a total of 1512 numbers of cages were installed in the reservoir.

The present study was initiated by ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore, under the leadership of Dr. B.K. Das, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, at West Potachari, ADC village, Raishyabari Block of Gandacherra sub-division in Dumbur reservoir, Dhalai district, Tripura. A total of 10,000 no. of pabda seeds (average length 5.45 cm; average weight: 0.55 g) were stocked in the cages (6 m x 4 m x 4 m) on 20th June 2025. Additionally, ICAR-CIFRI has supplied 3 tons of floating pellet feed for the caged fish.

An awareness program was also conducted with the local fishers and officials of the state department to motivate the fishers to carry out cage culture scientifically to accrue maximum benefit from the technology. The beneficiaries from the tribal groups were selected and involved in the participatory mode. The initiative was supported by Dr. S.K. Majhi, Head, ICAR-CIFRI Regional Centre; Dr. P.K. Parida, Senior Scientist; and Dr. G. Karnatak, Senior Scientist and PI, ICAR-CIFRI, Barrackpore. The program was coordinated by Dr. S.C.S. Das, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI RC Guwahati, and Mr. M. H. Ramteke, Scientist, ICAR-CIFRI Barrackpore, with field-level support from Mr. Madan Tripura, SF, Department of Fisheries, Gandacherra, Tripura. ICAR-CIFRI is working in this direction to encourage the successful adoption of the technology in the open waters of the region.