To develop skills on nutritional aspects of fish with special emphasis on analytical techniques useful for both fish as food as well as for the development of fish feed for aquaculture, the Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kashmir University is organising an internship programme for research scholars.
Vice Chancellor (VC), Kashmir University (KU), Prof Nilofer Khan inaugurated the 45 days’ skill development training programme Wednesday here.
Vice Chancellor Prof Nilofer Khan, along with other senior functionaries including KU Registrar Dr Nisar A Mir expressed satisfaction about the research contributions being made by the varsity’s Fish Nutrition Research Lab.
Prof Nilofer Khan urged to take further effective steps towards the development of local ingredient-based fish feed and transfer of lab technology to the grassroots for the betterment of fisheries in Jammu and Kashmir and to promote start-ups in this field.
“There is a huge potential for fish culture specially the cold-water fisheries resources which can be used to provide sizeable employment and revenue to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Prof Khan reiterated, adding that awareness generation among the unemployed youth for sustainable utilisation of resources for “cost effective fish farming can be a game-changer to promote entrepreneurship in this area”.
Registrar, Kashmir University, Dr Nisar Ahmad Mir said that the skill development programme is a significant step towards harnessing the potential of fisheries in the region and creating opportunities for employment and revenue generation.
“This marks a pivotal stride in unlocking the region's fisheries potential, paving the way for employment opportunities and sustainable revenue generation,” Dr Mir maintained.
Apprising the KU Vice Chancellor, Prof Nilofer Khan about the nature and significance of the internship programme and other activities presently going on in the Fish Nutrition Research Laboratory, Principal Investigator (PI) of the programme and Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, KU, Dr Imtiaz Ahmed Khan, highlighted the crucial role of analytical techniques in understanding the nutritional aspects of fish.
“These skills are instrumental not only for improving fish as a food source but also for the development of fish feed for aquaculture,” he said.
Head, Department of Zoology, KU, Prof A A Buhroo, outlined the aims and objectives of the training programme.
“Our commitment to academic excellence and innovation shines through as we try to articulate the profundity of the skill training programme in the field,” Prof Buhroo said.
Titled ‘Analytical techniques in fish biochemistry with special emphasis on protein, fat, energy and hemato-biochemical parameters’ is being sponsored by the Department of Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Government of India under its ‘Accelerate Vigyan Scheme’.
Other faculty members,SS to Vice Chancellor Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad Zarri and research scholars were present on the occasion.