The implementation of the Aquaculture Business School (ABS) in India, spearheaded by GIZ Sustainable Aquaculture for Food and Livelihood (SAFAL) in collaboration with local and Global partners, represents a transformative approach to empowering rural aquaculture communities. Drawing inspiration from the Agri-Business Facility (ABF) model successfully applied in Africa, the initiative incorporates localized adaptations for the Indian aquaculture sector. The ABS initiative began with a vision-sharing workshop involving diverse stakeholders such as the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Assam, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission (ASRLM), and other allied institutions. A key highlight was the step-by-step process presented by ABF experts, emphasizing the recruitment of master trainers, structured Training of Trainers (ToTs), and field demonstrations. The program integrates adult learning principles, resource-efficient practices, and participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach. Key milestones include the selection of 15 trainers from Assam’s intervention Districts, integrating them into a comprehensive training pipeline, and adapting training materials for local contexts. Learning from the African ABF model, the Indian program employs a paper-based system and emphasizes community-driven evaluation methods. The program identified carp, rice, and duck as focus components for implementation, reflecting Assam’s agrarian landscape. A knowledge product involving didactics was also developed.
Outcomes of the initiative encompass enhanced training frameworks, joint agreements on budgets and operational plans, and tailored strategies to meet local needs. The ABS approach demonstrates a scalable pathway for transforming traditional aquaculture to aquaculture business development model in India, fostering sustainability, capacity building understanding on risks and finding mitigation measures, business decision making and economic empowerment.
Keywords: Aquaculture Business School, Agri-Business Facility for Africa, Business Decision Making, Risk Mitigation