Foreign scientists inspect biofloc prawn cultivation

Bhimavaram: A delegation of foreign scientists inspected the biofloc prawn cultivation at Ananda Foundation in Bhimavaram. The team consisting of scientists from United Kingdom (UK), Bangladesh and Kenya along with Indian scientists had taken up research on the various viruses on prawn internationally since 2016.  As part of their study, the team reached India and toured Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.  

The team toured Bhimavaram, the aqua hub of Andhra Pradesh to study the problems of prawn culture. As part of the MoUs between Sterling University and Ananda Foundation, the team first phase study was completed, according to Dr Francis Murray, Research Associate Hazarat Ali, Md Belal Hossain, Dr Mohmad Elthorth and Ananda Foundation chairman UK Viswanatha Raju.

The scientists said that the prawn cultivation was extensive in Andhra Pradesh and many people were entering in prawn cultivation with minimum knowledge. Following this, the new farmers were using chemicals indiscriminately in the aqua cultivation. 

They said they had visited 200 prawn cultivation tanks. They had researched on 35 tanks with the biofloc system in 32 days. The team observed that the prawn growth and usage of feed was decreased, as per the researchers by Ananda Foundation.  They inspected the prawn breed in the tanks on the occasion.