One can grow vegetables without soil in three separate trays kept on top of an aquarium using the water drawn from below. The water from these vegetable trays goes through pipes back to the aquarium.
This model of aquaponics — a form of aquaculture — developed by the Inland Fisheries Unit of University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bengaluru, was among the exhibits that drew attention of people at the exhibition held on Friday at the College of Fisheries as part of its golden jubilee celebration.
Chief Scientific Officer of UAS’s Inland Fisheries Unit B.V. Krishnamurthy said they developed the model to popularise aquaponics in Karnataka. This form of aquaculture was popular in Kerala, he said. Mr. Krishnamurthy said seven different types of fishes, including Nile Tilapia, which is available in the unit, can be used in the acquarium. Lettuces and other high value short duration leafy vegetables can be grown in the trays, he said.
Among the others exhibits that attracted attention included the estuarine cage farming model developed by Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mangaluru.
Scientist Purushottama G.B. said their cage farming model developed in 2009 has been adopted by several fishermen to harvest snapper (locally called Kemberi) and few other fishes available near estuaries. “Such harvesting helps fishermen earn income during the off season when they do not go to the sea for fishing,” he said.
The exhibition was inaugurated by in-charge Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University Ishwar P. He also inaugurated the two-day All India Fisheries Colleges Cultural and Sports meet.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ishwar said the Mangalore University was among the few universities in the country that has a separate sports policy. A separate sports and culture policy was necessary to support younger generation, he said.
Dean (Fisheries), College of Fisheries, H. Shivananada Murthy, said it was the first time that a sports and culture meet of the 30 fisheries colleges in the country was being held. Because of short notice of the event, only eight colleges were attending the meet. Mr. Murthy said the sports and culture meet of fisheries colleges would be an annual feature.
