ICAR-CIFT Fish-Based Nutrition Initiative Wins Assam Government’s Karmashree Award

The research and technology contributions of the ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Technology (ICAR-CIFT) in Kochi, developed through a collaboration with WorldFish, have been recognized with the Karmashree Award 2026 by the Assam Government.

George Ninan, Director of ICAR-CIFT, stated that the recognition stems from the successful implementation of the Matsya Paripushti (Complete Nourishment through Fish) initiative by the Assam Government. The program incorporates a nutrient-rich powder made from small indigenous fish into meals served at schools and Anganwadis.

This development marks a transition of fisheries research from laboratory and field settings into government-backed public policy programs. The initiative has its roots in a CIFT–WorldFish collaborative research program initiated in 2019. Under this partnership, CIFT was tasked with developing affordable, easy-to-prepare, and nutritious fish-based food products targeted at women and children, alongside implementation strategies.

Following product development research, CIFT created a nutrient-rich fish powder designed to be easily integrated into various food preparations. This technology has since been adopted under Assam's Matsya Paripushti initiative.

The recognition highlights a nutrition-sensitive fisheries approach, demonstrating the potential of India's small indigenous fish resources to address child malnutrition, enhance dietary diversity, create livelihood opportunities for women, strengthen local value chains, and promote sustainable fisheries-based food systems.

"The transition of laboratory research into actionable government policy is a strong example of how institutional innovation can address large-scale social challenges like malnutrition. The success of the Matsya Paripushti initiative demonstrates the commercial and social value of localized resource utilization, creating sustainable value chains while solving grassroots problems. This public-private and institutional synergy sets a benchmark for impactful public welfare programs." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes