Knowledge Exchange on the Aquatic Food System: Expanding Opportunities for Mandla's Agroecological Transition

Authors:

Ayan Samaddar^a, Meghajit Sharma Shijagurumayum^b, Smitha Krishnan^b, Sudharsan Maliappan^c, Arun Padiyar Panemangalore^a, Sarah Freed^d, Shwu Jiau Teoh^e, Gulshan Borah^c, Gopal Kumar^c

^aWorldFish, India ^b Bioversity International, India ^c International Water Management Institute, India ^d International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Kenya, ^eWorldFish Malaysia.

Key highlights:

• 89 representatives participated in multiple knowledge exchange workshops to explore characteristics of different types of aquatic food systems in Mandla, Bichiya, and Narayanganj block.
• 82 representatives participated in the workshop to exchange their thoughts and dialogs on the potentials and challenges of Mandla's aquatic food systems and on finding out prospects.

The district of Mandla, in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh boasts a diverse aquatic food system, where local fisheries (both capture and culture) play a vital role in the livelihoods of the communities. Despite facing challenges such as limited resources and knowledge, inadequate infrastructure, and climate-related threats to aquaculture, the local community remains enthusiastic and views fisheries as a key potential livelihood source. Fishers in this region primarily rely on the Narmada River, which supports significant local fisheries. While capture fisheries thrive in paddy fields, canals, lakes, and dams, while community-managed culture fisheries have also been established in village ponds and other impounded water bodies.

Recently, there has been a growing interest in cultivating aquatic plants like lotus and water chestnut. In addition, the Government efforts are underway to promote climate-resilient integrated aquaculture techniques, such as biofloc, combined with horticulture and agriculture to enhance sustainability.

Considering these developments, 'The Aquatic Food System-based Knowledge Exchange Workshop' was organized in Mandla district under the CGIAR Initiative on Agroecology. The exchange aimed to engage key stakeholders in Mandla's diverse aquatic food systems, including farmers, fishers, market players, researchers, and government officials. Participants for the workshop were identified through an ongoing scoping survey that maps the typologies of Mandla's aquatic food systems.

This workshop was designed as a response to the recent efforts by the government as well as the demand of the locals to imparting fundamental knowledge on Mandla's aquatic food system. While at the core, the intention of the workshop was to encourage collaboration between community members with pertinent stakeholders from the Government and Non-government sector.

The activity addressed the following objectives:

• Help participants understand existing aquatic food production systems, operational techniques, associated challenges, and constraints in the Mandla district.
• Raise awareness to promote small-scale fisheries/aquaculture in an integrated manner to address issues like income generation, malnutrition, and food security for the smallholders.
• Exchange on management strategies of existing water resources through optimal management practices. And highlighting the government / nongovernment schemes and policies that would be helpful for smallholders to foster fisheries-based livelihood.
• Discuss indigenous fish species cultivation through agroecology-friendly farming techniques.
• Foster the utilization of aquatic food-based resources in an agroecology-friendly manner in India.

Awareness-building efforts generated strong interest among community members, government officials, and other stakeholders, fostering cooperative relationships between farming and fisheries communities and relevant agencies. These partnerships are expected to aid in developing an agroecological model for aquatic food systems in Mandla. During the workshop, participants emphasized the importance of capacity building in integrated aquaculture and establishing fish hatcheries and processing units as initial steps to scale operations. Institutional and administrative actors pledged support to improve livelihoods, food security, and nutrition for the district's farming and fishing communities through aquaculture.

Voices from participants

"When we talk about fish farming in Mandla, it's not just about increasing production; it's about doing it sustainably. Fish is a vital source of nutrition for these communities, especially for children and women. But to maximize its benefits, we need to integrate sustainable practices-like low-input aquaculture and better land-use planning-into our approach." - Dr. Ayan Samaddar, Research Associate and Principal Investigator, WorldFish, India.

"The statistics are alarming. In regions like Mandla, malnutrition continues to be a pressing issue, and we must recognize the role fish can play in addressing this. Fish is not just a source of livelihood but an essential part of the nutritional puzzle. If we focus on improving fish production, we can tackle both health and economic challenges. It's time for our fishers to embrace better processing and drying techniques, ensuring that fish remain edible for longer, commanding higher prices in the market." - Dr. Baishnaba Charan Rath, Senior Specialist in Human Nutrition and Public Health, WorldFish, India.

"Mandla's fisheries sector has great untapped potential. Across the country and the world, we see initiatives transforming the livelihoods of fishers, improving food security, and driving sustainable practices. Mandla can be at the forefront of this change, but it will require collective effort - from government stakeholders, fishers, and the private sector. Let's continue to work together, building on today's discussions and ensuring that fisheries here reach their full potential. - Dr. Alok Sikka, Country Representative for India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, IWMI, Delhi, India

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