Bhubaneswar, March 12: A group of 25 graduate students are undergoing a training programme on scientific aquaculture at the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) here today.

These students hail from tribal districts of Odisha, Jharkhand and Assam.

They are being trained to gain self-employment using modern technology in aquaculture.

“Students can not only use technology for self-employment but also convince their parents, neighbours and local government bodies to utilise available water bodies for scientific aquaculture,” said CIFA director P. Jayashankar at the inaugural session of the programme.

Jayashankar advised the participants to go for integrated fish farming and encouraged them to take up aquaculture as profession and for income generation.

The training is being conducted as part of the tribal sub plan of the Union government and is aimed to create awareness among the students to adopt new technology in aquaculture.

“We will provide these students with sufficient practical work so that they can understand field work. Those interested to pursue integrated fish farming as a career will be guided by the institute,” said principal scientist B.C. Mohapatra.

The premier institute has been conducting national and international-level training projects for researchers, officers and experts.

This is the first time that this sprawling 147-hectare campus on the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway has been opened to students.

“The technology that we develop here have no utility until they are put to practical use. We hope that the students use the knowledge and techniques learned here and generate enhanced output,” said Mohapatra.