Vet Varsity Launches Mobile Fish Cart for Promoting Fish Consumption
Ludhiana 15 March 2024-To create awareness and enhance per capita fish consumption in the State, a concept of mobile fish cart is being introduced by College of Fisheries (COF), Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana with an added entrepreneurial attraction for youth and aspiring stakeholders in fisheries. Besides advocating nutritional benefits of fishery products, the cart will supply fresh hygienic “Ready to Cook” fishery products at the doorsteps of the consumers, like vegetables, milk and milk products. The mobile cart carries a 300 liters capacity chargeable glycol deep freezer, which can be charged within 6 hours for maintaining frozen temperature (-20°C) for up to 20 hours.
Dr. Meera D. Ansal, Dean, COF informed that the cart has been customized to maintain freshness and quality of the fishery products during the marketing period. It can carry 100 kg fishery products at a time and will supply fresh fishery products to fish lovers. This prototype model costs about Rs 2.75 lakhs. Such a facility is expected to be welcomed by the urban consumers who have to visit far off fish markets/supermarkets to buy fish. Moreover, it will also help the buyer to cook fish without any cleaning hassles. The cart can also be used for the marketing of other meat products as per public demand and it will develop entrepreneurship with a focus on self-employment, she added.
Dr. Vaneet Inder Kaur, Head, Department of Fish Processing Technology (FPT), COF said that fish is a rich source of easily digestible protein containing all essential amino acids, healthy fat (polyunsaturated fatty acids called “PUFA”), minerals and vitamins, essential for pregnant women; growing children; and cardiac health; memory as well as vision in all age groups, she added.
Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director Extension Education impressed that the said facility will boost fish consumption among urban population and can also be used for marketing of milk and meat products for strengthening the domestic market of livestock and fish products.
Congratulating the FPT team for the initiative, Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of the university highlighted that per capita fish consumption of Punjab is very low (400 gms) as compared to national average of 6.8 kg and WHO recommendation of 12 kg. The health benefits of fishery products need to be promoted through awareness and availability of hygienic fresh convenient products, which will not only increase per capita fish consumption but also support the vibrant aquaculture industry of the state with a strong domestic market, he added.