Mumbai: In a move aimed at enhancing cooperative management in the fisheries sector, the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (ICAR-CIFE) and the Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management (VAMNICOM) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 26, 2024. This partnership is a crucial step towards realizing the vision of establishing 2 lakh Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), dairy, and fishery cooperatives in every Panchayat across India.
With fisheries providing livelihoods to over 14.46 million people in India, the collaboration seeks to improve the integration of advanced technology and value addition in fishery cooperatives. Through the partnership, ICAR-CIFE and VAMNICOM will work together on education, research, capacity building, and consultancy to strengthen fish cooperatives and the fisheries ecosystem.
The signing ceremony, held at the ICAR-CIFE campus in Mumbai, was attended by Dr. Ravishankar CN, Director and Vice Chancellor of ICAR-CIFE, and Dr. Hema Yadav, Director of VAMNICOM, along with scientists and faculty members from both institutions.
Dr. Ravishankar expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “This MoU is a pivotal moment for advancing shared goals. Our partnership will enhance research capabilities and expand the reach of impactful training programs, driving progress in cooperative management for the fisheries sector.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Hema Yadav highlighted the mutual benefits of the MoU, adding, “This collaboration will integrate cooperative management principles into the fisheries sector, leveraging expertise and resources to improve practices and foster innovation.”