AU inks pact for Aquaculture Skill Development Centre in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: The Andhra University in collaboration with Avanthi Aqua Culture Foundation will establish 'Aquaculture Skill Development Centre' to train thousands of fishermen in aquaculture and shrimp farming.

Registrar of AU V Krishnamohan and Joint Managing Director of Avanthi Aqua Culture Foundation C Ramachandra Rao exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard in the presence of AU Vice-Chancellor P V G D Prasad Reddy.

The V-C said the proposed centre would be the first-of-its-kind facility in the country which would be established in Andhra University at a cost of Rs 2.34 crore. "It would cater to the training needs of the fishermen and students of Department of Marine Living Resources, AU. In addition, Avanthi Aqua Culture Foundation would spend Rs 35 lakh every year for training programmes," the V-C said.

Further Prasad Reddy said the skill development centre would provide training to thousands of fishermen across Andhra Pradesh coast and thus help realise the dreams of Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in empowering the community.

The V-C said the students of Marine Living Resources of AU would get employment through campus placements by Avanthi Aqua Culture Foundation, a CSR initiative of Avanthi Sea Foods. Srinivasa Mohanthy of Avanthi Sea Foods, among others was present.