Immense job opportunities in fisheries field

An interview on fisheries and agriculture with Dr Shivakumar Magada, professor of Aquatic Biology, College Of Fisheries and who also heads the Krishi Vignana Kendra (KVK)  

How can the students be convinced on the importance and opportunities in the fishing sector?

The youth are being plagued by the lack of capital, skill and encouragement. Therefore the students are not showing much interest on this topic. If fish cultivation is promoted as a brand and projected as a profitable venture, the students can be attracted.

How are the opportunities in fisheries and agricultural science areas?

Our country produces 278 million tons of food yearly and yet, there are more than 20 crore people who suffer from lack of food. Almost 40 crore people suffer from malnutrition. The number of children dying is also more. Due to this reason, in order to pacify the rise in hunger, fishing and fish cultivation will play a vital role henceforth. As a result, this field will give birth to many job opportunities in the future.

There is an accusation that the youth are losing affinity towards agriculture. Can this liking be improved through education?

It’s not an accusation; its truth. But, once if they enter the field of cultivation, definitely they will not be able to leave the field. Agriculture or fish cultivation requires less human labour. But the profits are more. In this way, those who have left agriculture can take fish cultivation has a business opportunity. If it is accepted as a business opportunity and if approached with scientific development, both agriculture and fish cultivation is a profitable business. In the present days, fisheries field is growingly rapidly. There is technology available through which yield can be increased in a small area.

Are there any topics in fisheries and agriculture fields that need to be changed?

We are spoiling our heads only on food production. But the existing problem is not in production; it is the distribution system. If the distribution is made systematic, the food that we are currently producing is enough for us. Food problem will not happen if we control supply and demand, if we start to give scientific price to farmers and when we make use of proper processing system on all the produced food.  

Interview by Dhanya Balekaje translated from Kannada to English by Aaron Dmello