Simulia: Dr Ambika Prasad Nayak is an aquaculture scientist known across the state for his research in fishery.
Nayak, who carries out research indefatigably on various aspects to promote pisciculture, observed that fishery can receive a boost if the government eases farm loan and lays emphasis on digging large ponds and small ponds for conservation of fingerlings.
Nayak works as a scientist at Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Ranital.
On his personal level, he even tries to reach out to farmers to resolve their fishery problems.
He makes use of social media as a helping tool to communicate solutions to farmers of Western Odisha about their problems. He has received a gold medal for his excellence in fishery research.
Dr Ambika is the elder son of Dr Fakir Mohan Nayak and Sarojini Nayak, natives of Sikrida village in Nayagarh district.
His father was a doctor posted in Koraput jail. Ambika had completed his primary education at Jail Upper Primary school.
Later, he did his Plus-II Science at GM College in Sambalpur and completed his graduation and post graduation from OUAT in Bhubaneswar.
Significantly, he topped the all India Junior Resource Fellowship examination. He also topped post graduation in fishery and received a gold medal.
He served as a technical officer at Odisha-Andhra Prawn Breeding project in 1995. From 1998 to 2005, he served the fishery department of the state government in various capacities in Kalahandi and Sambalpur districts.
He has successfully conducted research on year-long fish and spawns production, control of shells in fish ponds, disease resistance in fishes and black carp production.
Currently, he has been doing research on biofloc fish production, high value emur carp production, use of yeast and pro-biotics in fish fodder, cake feeding and low-investment and high fish production technology. His wife stays in Bhubaneswar.
“As I stay away from my family, I spend a lot of time with farmers,” he noted. Dr Ambika recalled his childhood fascination towards aquaculture which drove him to pursue such a career.
He was honoured with Award of Excellence by OUAT.
Farmers of Khaira block had feted him at a ceremony, which gave him immense joy.
It was a boat tragedy that had taken place in Kalampur of Kalahandi in 2000, which still causes heartache for him. He was drowning in Hati river, but was saved by farmers.
PNN