MPEDA scientists arrange mobile lab to diagnose diseases, suggest remedies to aqua farmers

MPEDA officials interacting with aqua farmers at the mobile lab stationed at Pedda Tummidi village in Krishna district.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Scientists of Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Aquaculture (RGCA), a research wing of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), have arranged a mobile laboratory that visits aquaculture ponds to detect diseases and help farmers by suggesting remedial measures.

The laboratory would conduct various tests like water quality analysis, PCR analysis, and for detection of viruses and bacteria at the ponds, the MPEDA officials said.

“The aim of arranging ‘lab at pond’ is to reach aqua farmers at ponds, diagnose diseases and give them advice on the spot,” said RGCA Director S. Kandan.

Fisheries Minister K. Atchannaidu, Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSADA) vice-chairman Anam Venkata Ramana Reddy, Commissioner (Fisheries) Rama Shankar Naik and other officials visited the mobile lab in Vijayawada a few days ago and interacted with the aqua farmers, said RGCA Principal Scientific Officer and Tilapia project in-charge B. Appala Naidu on Thursday.

“The lab tested samples at Pedda Tummidi, Mallapurajugudem, Sunkarapalem and other villages in Bantumilli mandal in Krishna district. We request the AP Fisheries Department to provide a similar lab,’‘ said a shrimp farmer Tummala Venkateswara Rao, who is a retired Central government officer.

In Andhra Pradesh, the mobile lab visited the coastal villages in West Godavari, Nellore, Krishna and other districts, said senior field officer P. Krishnakanth Varadaraju.

“We usually have to take the water and soil samples, the seed and the shrimp to the labs located in towns for testing the quality, PCR, salinity and diseases. But the RGCA scientists visited our farms (ponds), tested the samples at the mobile lab, and gave us the results and necessary suggestions immediately,” a seabass farmer Kagita Vasantha Rao told The Hindu.

Dr. Kandan said that screening of pathogens would be decided as per the growth and signs of animals (shrimp or fish) and the condition of the farms. Samples would be preserved and taken to the RGCA centralised lab at Sirkali, Tamil Nadu, for further analysis and research, if necessary, he said.