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Post Tsunami witnessed people giving like never before to the needy. The Central Institute for Fisheries Technology, Cochin chipped in its share but in a different way. The people of the Azhikkal hamlet, Vypeen in Kerala got a fish kiosk as a New Year gift from Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (CIFT). The Institute had been working in this village with eighty fishermen families for the past two years. In this venture eight women chosen by Kumarananda Yogam Mahila Samajam were associated. This is only one of its kind as no where else in the country such a kiosk is opened in cooperation with a fisheries institute.
CIFT provided a specially designed Kiosk which is made of marine quality plywood with space for storage, display and service. The serving trays are bio-degradable. The Institute has given the women a chance to make the best use of the technology they had learnt from them in hygienically drying fishes, fish pickles and making fish chutney. Which are also sold in hygienically packed pouches.
The members of Mahilasamajam are happy, the Kiosk is a timely help from CIFT after the Tsunami disaster, rumours about Zulican virus and safety of fish eating.
Why Azhikkal? Azhikkal has traditional fishermen community which depends on stake nets for their livelihood. These stake nets are placed in the ocean or backwaters at sunset. About mid-night these are brought back to the shore and the women sort out different varities of fishes and marine resources. This type of fishing is done for a period of eight days at a given time based on the lunar cycle. As the stake nets cause depletion in the marine resources, the government has given license to very few fishermen to use stake nets. Thereby forcing the men to either move out as assistants to other fishermen or wait for alternate jobs. “Usually the stake net catch was dried in sun and the waste was thrown into the sea, this settles back on the shore giving stench,” said Dr. K. Devadasan, Director, CIFT. “The Institute provided the fisherwomen the technology to dry fish hygienically and to effectively utilize the fish waste by making a feed for pigs and poultry. This technique helps to convert stinking fish waste into a product with acceptable smell of economic value”, he added.
With both the Centre and the State Governments working for community development and for all round growth of women and backward classes. Dr. Krishna Srinath, Principal Scientist of the Institute and Leader of the programme feels, village adoption is a very effective method of technology transfer by Research Institutes where the community can be effectively involved in the demonstration of technologies and then implement them for capacity building. As the Kiosk was opened, the Indian Oil Corporation provided them with gas connection and big lawn umbrellas and Sea Food Exporters’ Association provided support for untensils. The women had planned to keep the kiosk open from break fast time to tea time in the evening. But on public demand they now open it from 5.30 in the morning to late in the night. But the women decked in floral aprons and head gear have no regrets. The fisher community in Azhikkal had not lost their homes and dear ones in Tsunami like many other fishing communities elsewhere but their stake nets were destroyed and their spirits were all time low. “CIFT has given us a new lease of life, we have found a new meaning and new means for livelihood. We plan to stick on to this till the end,” says Smt. Vanaja, the leader of self help group. For the fisherman , this kiosk will be a regular stop over after their struggle with the sea. Where they will have their fill and carry a parcel along with the hard earned booty.
Yes! It will be a matter of time when these children of sea will once again venture in the deep sea and their women using technologies and support from the Institute will bring their share home . Impressed by this venture, the ICAR plans to install such kiosk in different states too.
*Assistant Information Officer, PIB, Cochin
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