Udupi
Ravi Kharvi, a progressive fish farmer from Talur village in Kundapur taluk, has been honored with the prestigious Best Marine Fish Farmer Award by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. The award was presented to Kharvi by Union Fisheries Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh during the World Fisheries Day celebrations held in New Delhi.
Kharvi was recognized for his exceptional work in implementing the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) practice, a project under the guidance of the Mangalore Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). This innovative aquaculture method, which combines the farming of Indian pompano, silver pompano, and green mussels, is the first of its kind in Karnataka.
The project, which received financial assistance from the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), Hyderabad, was led by Dr. KM Rajesh, Dr. Sujitha Thomas, Dr. Dinesh Babu, and research scholar KS Dharshan. The successful cultivation of these species yielded impressive results, with the fish and mussels harvested in phases between June and July 2024, in alignment with market demand.
The harvested pompano fish, sold at premium prices of Rs 450 to Rs 480 per kilogram, and mussels, fetching Rs 145 to Rs 150 per kg, contributed to Kharvi’s income, totaling approximately Rs 6 lakh. His innovative approach has set a new benchmark for sustainable fish farming in Karnataka.
