In a major push toward sustainable rural development, the ICAR–Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI), in partnership with the Kultoli Milan Tirtha Society and State Bank of India (Kolkata Circle), has launched an innovative aquaculture initiative in the Sundarbans, aimed at uplifting 100 families through backyard pond fish farming. Implemented under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, the project offers a replicable model for community-based livelihood generation.

Earlier this year, participating families received 10 kg of fish seed and 120 kg of feed to commence household pond cultivation. Marking the next phase, the initiative began a three-day hands-on training programme on October 9, focusing on practical aquaculture techniques and financial literacy to ensure long-term sustainability. Each trainee also received 500 seeds of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (freshwater prawn) to enhance productivity and income potential.

Dr. B.K. Das, Director of ICAR-CIFRI, emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative: “If this initiative succeeds in creating one Model Village, it will inspire many more toward a self-reliant future.” Lokman Molla, President of Kultoli Milan Tirtha Society, described the Model Village Project as an “epoch-making initiative”, integrating science, community participation, and financial empowerment.

To ensure scientific precision, CIFRI scientists personally visited each pond to provide customized technical support, while Dr. Aparna Roy, Senior Scientist, CIFRI, and Tanushree Pal, Chief General Manager, SBI Canning, actively engaged in mentoring participants. Beyond economic upliftment, the initiative fosters food security, ecological resilience, and social cohesion in one of India’s most climate-vulnerable regions.

This project represents a strategic blend of science, community engagement, and financial empowerment, providing a scalable blueprint for sustainable aquaculture-led livelihoods across rural India.