Aiming to enhance efficiency of inland fisheries, the Union ministry of fisheries has launched a pilot project using drone technology for fish transportation, led by Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), Barrackpore, under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana scheme.
The project was introduced to hundreds of fisherwomen from 16 self-help groups in remote areas adjacent to Sundarbans in West Bengal, as well as in Siwan, Bihar on Tuesday. The event featured a demonstration and detailed explanation led by Abhilaksh Likhi, union secretary, department of fisheries and B K Das, director, ICAR-CIFRI. The demonstration featured sprayer drones for spraying chemicals to aquaculture waterbodies, aerial drones for monitoring aquaculture, underwater drones for comprehensive waterbody analysis, and cargo delivery drones.
According to CIFRI officials, the project was launched after recognizing the potential of drone technology to overcome access barriers and enable faster delivery of vital goods to remote locations.
“ICAR-CIFRI is working on designing a drone capable of transporting live fish with a payload of up to 100 kgs over a distance of 10 km.” said Das.The initiative seeks to harness drones for managing inland fisheries and promoting sustainability. This move represents a key milestone in the digitalization of India’s fisheries sector, aiding sustained growth and sustainability.