Oct 2026 : The long-standing association between the ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CIFRI) and Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC), Maithon, is set to receive fresh impetus with both organisations exploring new avenues of collaboration for sustainable reservoir fisheries development, cage farming and livelihood enhancement of fisher communities.
ICAR-CIFRI has been closely associated with DVC since 2007, when the two institutions collaborated under the NFDB-sponsored fish stocking programme in the Maithon, Panchet, Tilaiya and Konar reservoirs during 2007–2009. The partnership was further strengthened with the establishment of a Cage Hub at Maithon Reservoir from 2010 onwards. The collaboration has been supported through three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) signed between the two organisations in 2010, 2018 and 2024.
The renewed engagement focuses on leveraging the technical expertise of ICAR-CIFRI for enhancing reservoir fisheries under DVC while exploring opportunities for joint initiatives in fisheries development and livelihood generation. Discussions also highlighted the possibility of making the aquatic resource facilities at Maithon more functional and strengthening their role in supporting fisheries-related activities.
The proposed areas of cooperation include regular cage stocking and cage-farming activities, reservoir fisheries enhancement, technology transfer and joint initiatives under DVC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Such initiatives could particularly benefit tribal fisher communities dependent on the reservoirs for their livelihoods.
During the recent interaction between the two organisations, Head of Office, DVC Maithon, Shri Subir Saha, and DGM, Maithon, Shri Sukhamoy Nayak, shared their views on strengthening the partnership and creating a more effective framework for future cooperation. The discussions were held with the ICAR-CIFRI team associated with the Open Water Aquaculture and Production Management (OWAPM) Division.
Commenting on the broader significance of the renewed collaboration, Dr. Pradip Dey, Director, ICAR-CIFRI, said, “The long-standing association between ICAR-CIFRI and DVC provides a strong foundation for advancing sustainable reservoir fisheries and improving livelihood opportunities for fisher communities. By combining DVC’s reservoir resources and institutional support with ICAR-CIFRI’s scientific and technological expertise, there is considerable scope for strengthening cage-based fisheries, reservoir enhancement and community-oriented fisheries programmes.”
The renewed dialogue between ICAR-CIFRI and DVC is expected to provide a framework for translating scientific technologies into field-level interventions, particularly in cage farming and reservoir fisheries management. The partnership also holds potential to contribute to the sustainable utilisation of DVC’s aquatic resources while creating improved livelihood opportunities for fishing communities around its reservoirs.
The two organisations have expressed their shared commitment to taking the collaboration forward through a pragmatic and mutually beneficial approach, with the larger objective of strengthening inland fisheries and supporting the communities dependent on reservoir resources.
