Odisha govt sings MoU with WorldFish for piloting inclusion of small fish in Supplementary Nutrition Programme

Bhubaneswar, Nov 10: The Women and Child Development (WCD) department and Mission Shakti and WorldFish have signed an MoU in a virtual ceremony today for piloting of inclusion of fish and fish based products in Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) for children (3 to 6 years), pregnant & nursing women and adolescent girls in 50 Anganwadi Centres(AWCs) of Mayurbhanj district. It is a 5- year technical collaboration between the department and World Fish. The objective of the MoU is to scaling up the initiative; training & empowering Mission Shakti Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) involved in nutrition-sensitive fish production systems in Gram Panchayat tanks; fish processing & market linkage; dissemination of the benefits of fish-based nutrition through social and behaviour change communication materials; leveraging nutrition protagonist Tiki Mausi and documenting and sharing learning with stakeholders. WSHGs in the coastal fishing villages will also be trained for seeking business opportunities in solar dried fish and fish powder following food safety standards of FSSAI. DC-cum-ACS, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra while congratulating WCD & MS Department and WorldFish for the 5-year technical collaboration expressed that such innovation will go a long way in accelerating nutrition status in the state. He hoped that it will not only make best use of locally available fisheries resource but will also economically empower women in the long run. Dr Gareth Johnstone, Director General of WorldFish informed that technical experts from WorldFish would support WSHGs in preparation of fish powder using hygienically solar fish driers on a pilot basis over next 6 months. ICARCentral Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin, an India research partner of WorldFish will supply the low cost poly house solar fish driers for this program.