Chennai-based CIBA scientists develop soil-friendly fertilisers from fish waste

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CIBA-PlanktonPlus has been derived entirely from fish market waste | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Scientists at the Chennai-based ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA) have developed an innovative fish waste-based biofertiliser technology that offers a sustainable and economically viable alternative to conventional fertilisers.

The institute has developed two novel products — CIBA-PlanktonPlus and CIBA-HortiPlus — derived entirely from fish market waste.

“These products represent a win-win solution by addressing the twin challenges of scientific fish waste disposal and the growing need for eco-friendly nutrient sources that enhance soil fertility and agricultural productivity,” said Kuldeep K. Lal, Director of ICAR-CIBA.

CIBA-HortiPlus is a nutrient-rich organic manure developed from processed fish waste | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The scientists explained India currently produces nearly 195 lakh tonnes of fish annually, generating more than 60 lakh tonnes of fish waste. They estimate this untapped resource has the potential to yield approximately 48 lakh tonnes of CIBA-PlanktonPlus and 3 lakh tonnes of CIBA-HortiPlus every year, transforming a major environmental burden into a valuable agricultural input.

Dr. Lal said multi-location on-farm trials conducted across Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha demonstrated significant benefits of CIBA-PlanktonPlus in aquaculture. Application of the product in fish and shrimp ponds enhanced production by 0.6-0.8 tonnes per hectare, improved survival rates by 10% to 15% and reduced feed requirements by 20% to 50%.

The biofertiliser has also shown promising results in agriculture. Field trials in paddy and vegetable crops recorded substantial reductions in chemical fertiliser use without compromising productivity. Foliar application of CIBA-PlanktonPlus enabled considerable savings in nitrogen fertiliser (urea) in paddy cultivation, while vegetable crops such as beans,