Activities and Approaches (Technology infused and implementation ):

1. Fish Seed Production and introduction of new fish varieties.
2. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Practices.
3. Table size Fish production.
4. Contribution to Fish food basket in North east India.

Shri Debajit Barman, grandson of a freedom fighter late Gargaram Barman of Nankarbhaira village of Nalbari district of Assam is a very enthusiastic person since his school days. He completed his schooling in the year 1990, after which Mr. Barman happened to meet one of the best fish farmers of that time, Late Sukleswar Brahma of Khatikuchi village of Nalbari district of Assam. A visit to the fish farm of Brahma motivated him, and soon he started fish farming in a pond of 0.13 hectare rearing about 2 lakh fingerlings of Rohu, Catla and Mrigal. He earned Rs 42,000/- (Rupees forty two thousand) only from his maiden attempt of fish farming and it encouraged him to take fish farming as a livelihood option. In the very next year, he increased his pond area to 0.30 hectare and earned Rs 87,000/- (Rupees eighty seven thousand) only. In 1992, when Assamese youths were attracted towards idealism of terrorism he concentrated in fish farming and also engaged 13 youths in his farm. In 1998, he constructed a Chinese Eco-hatchery with his own fund. He started natural breeding and Happa breeding of Common carp in his own farm and in a leased pond of 2 hectare area as there was lack of quality fish seed in the locality. By producing quality fish seed, he eliminated one of the major constraints of fish farming of Nalbari district to some extent. Seeing his success, youths of the district were motivated to fish farming. The water area for fish farming was increased to 12 hectare, and presently his water area is more than 60 hectare. The devastating flood by Pagladiya river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra river caused huge loses but several such deluge could not dampen his spirit. In the year 2006, he introduced integration of pig farming with fishery and experimented for five years under the guidance of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Nalbari and College of Fishery Science, Raha, Assam and came to a conclusion that it increased fish productivity remarkably. After that he increased numbers of pigs in his farm, and at present he has more than 2500 numbers of pigs in his farm. In the year 2010, a group of Scientist from ICAR- CIFA, Bhubaneswar visited his farm and advised him to start fish seed production of improved variety, Jayanti Rohu and now he is authorized seed multiplier of Jayanti Rohu under ICAR- CIFA, and fish seed of Jayanti Rohu has been collected by fish farmers of the entire north eastern states of India. From 2013, he has produced more than 52450 quality piglets and supplied it to different pig growers and earned in crores and became a reliable sources of HDK-75 piglets. Now his farm is becoming an institute. Every year more than 3000 youths used to visit his farm as a part of the exposure visit under different training programmes organized by different organizations like line State departments, banks, NGOs, NABARD etc. He is now a role model for many farmers of the region and a torchbearer of among entrepreneurs in fishery sector. He fulfilled the needs of quality fish seed very significantly and thus, he is playing a vital role in the development of fishery sector and ultimately the economic growth of the state in particular and overall in the country.