Guwahati, Assam: The Business Incubation Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture (BICFA) at Guwahati Biotech Park (GBP), under the Department of Science, Technology & Climate Change, Government of Assam, successfully organized a three-day hands-on training program on Feed Analysis and Nutrient Composition of Animal and Fish Feed. The program aimed to educate startups, researchers, and students and was held at GBP and the Feed Testing Laboratory, Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Sciences, Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Khanapara.
Dr. Bula Choudhury, Senior Scientist at GBP and Convener of the program, welcomed the participants. She highlighted the vision of BICFA as a pioneering initiative under the PMMSY Scheme of the Ministry of Fisheries, Government of India, with an aim to nurture budding entrepreneurs. She also elaborated on the support BICFA offers for business launches, consultancy services, technology transfer assistance, and intellectual property rights (IPR) facilitation.
The program was inaugurated by Prof. B.N. Saikia, Dean of the College of Veterinary Sciences, AAU, Khanapara. In his address, Prof. Saikia underscored the Importance of Scientific Feeding for Animals and Fish, emphasizing the role of feed quality in enhancing productivity and sustainability.
Dr. Rabin Bhuyan, HoD, Department of Nutrition and In-Charge of the Feed Testing Laboratory, shared insights on the establishment of the state-of-the-art laboratory. The lab, funded by APART under the World Bank project, was inaugurated on 9th July 2024 by AAU Vice-Chancellor Dr. B.C. Deka and Sri Virendra Mittal, SPD, ARIAS Society.
The technical sessions included expert lectures and hands-on training on feed quality analysis. Faculty members Prof. G. Saikia, Dr. K.C. Barma, and Dr. P. Talukder conducted sessions on the estimation of feed components such as protein, fat, fiber, and moisture.
A session on advanced laboratory instruments at GBP was delivered by Dr. Rajiv Ch. Dev Goswami, while Mr. Abinash Kumar from the NE Cell, NRDC, conducted a special session on Patent Filing and Technology Transfer. Adding an entrepreneurial perspective, Mr. Razakul Islam, Founder and CEO of Fishwaale, shared his inspiring journey and experiences as a successful entrepreneur in the fisheries sector.
The program trained 29 participants from across the Northeast, including Meghalaya, Manipur, and various districts of Assam, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge for feed analysis and quality management.
BICFA's initiatives have been made possible with the active support of Mr. Dev Kumar Mishra, CEO, Guwahati Biotech Park, DC Kamrup, and Mr. Rakesh Kumar Thakur, Administrator, GBP. The program concluded on a high note, reflecting GBP's continued commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors.
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