Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture

What Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture does

Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (ICAR-CIFA) is an autonomous research institute established in 1986 under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), itself within the Department of Agricultural Research and Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. Headquartered at Kausalyaganga, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, the institute is India's premier public-sector body for freshwater aquaculture R&D and holds ISO 9001:2008 certification. It operates five research divisions — Aquaculture Production and Environment, Fish Nutrition Physiology, Fish Genetics and Biotechnology, Fish Health Management, and Social Science — supported by specialized laboratories (Fish Genomics, Stem Cell Culture, Immuno Diagnostics & Nano Technology, Molecular Immunology, Environmental Microbiology, National Feed Testing, Post Harvest Technology, Soil & Water Chemistry) and operational hatcheries for Carp, Cat Fish, and Prawn plus a Feed Mill.

CIFA distributes its technologies through a national footprint of five Regional Research Centres at Rahara (Kolkata), Kalyani, Vijayawada, Bangalore, and Anand, supplemented by an Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC), KVK linkages, Business Planning and Development (BPD) unit, farmer hostels, and structured training programs targeting progressive farmers, NEH region farmers, SC-ST beneficiaries, and women in aquaculture. Revenue is not commercially disclosed; the institute is funded through ICAR/Government of India grants, with technology commercialization, priced publications, training services, and consultancies provided on a quote-based, non-public pricing basis. Notable programs include CIFABROOD demonstrations for early breeding of Indian Major Carps and successful November Rohu breeding, and the institute has engaged internationally through a WHO collaboration on 'Five Keys to Safer Aquaculture Products to Protect Public Health' and an International Consultation Meeting on Fish Genomics held in January 2015.

Name

Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture

Legal name

Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture

Website

https://cifa.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ICAR-CIFA is India's premier government freshwater aquaculture research institute under ICAR and the Ministry of Agriculture, operating divisions in genetics, nutrition, health, and production, with five Regional Research Centres delivering technology transfer to fish farmers across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture Research and Technology Development

NAICS

Aquaculture (11251), Finfish Farming and Fish Hatcheries (112511)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFAEAAAM

Aquaculture Farm Services & Operations Support (net cleaning, diving, grading, harvesting)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

SECONDARYAFAEAKAL

Hatchery Equipment, Systems & Technology (RAS Hatcheries, Incubation, Grading, Transport Systems)

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Hatcheries & Fingerling/Seed Stock Production

SECONDARYAFAEAAAK

Aquaculture Health, Biosecurity & Veterinary Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Aquaculture (Fish & Shellfish Farming)

SECONDARYAFAEANAE

Aquaculture & Fish Health Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Animal Production & Aquaculture/Animal Health & Veterinary Services

Keywords

• Freshwater aquaculture research
• Fish breeding technology
• Aquaculture seed production
• Fish genetics biotechnology
• Aquaculture extension services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bhubaneswar

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

ICAR-CIFA conducts freshwater aquaculture research and technology development across multiple specialized divisions (Aquaculture Production and Environment, Fish Nutrition Physiology, Fish Genetics and Biotechnology, Fish Health Management, Social Science). It provides fish breeding innovations, seed production methodologies, feed formulations, health management protocols, technology commercialization, and farmer training services through five Regional Research Centres and the Agricultural Technology Information Centre (ATIC).

Product overview

ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) is a research institute under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. The institute operates various divisions (Aquaculture Production and Environment, Fish Nutrition Physiology, Fish Genetics and Biotechnology, Fish Health Management, Social Science), manages regional research centers (RRC WAD Rahara, Kalyani, Vijaywada, Bangalore, Anand), and provides facilities including specialized laboratories (Immuno Diagnostics & Nano Technology Lab, Fish Genomics Lab, Stem Cell Culture Facility, Environmental Microbiology Lab, National Feed Testing Lab, Post Harvest Technology Lab, Soil & Water Chemistry Lab, Molecular Immunology Lab, Immunology Lab), hatcheries (Carp, Cat Fish, Prawn), a Feed Mill, and training services for farmers. The institute focuses on freshwater aquaculture research, technology development, and dissemination through publications, training programs, and technology commercialization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Freshwater Aquaculture Research and Development Services
• Fish Seed Production and Hatchery Services

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• International Fish Genomics CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2015International consultation meeting on Fish genomics was held at ICAR-CIFA on 23rd January 2015, bringing together international experts in fish genomics research and biotechnology applications for aquaculture improvement.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHO is collaborating with ICAR-Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture on the 'Five Keys to Safer Aquaculture Products to Protect Public Health' initiative. WHO organized the 3rd Pilot session of this program at CIFA, demonstrating international recognition of the institute's expertise in aquaculture safety and public health protection.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB): Indian government body coordinating fisheries and aquaculture development programs and funding. Comparable as an institutional stakeholder shaping Indian aquaculture policy, technology dissemination, and farmer support—overlapping with CIFA's extension role.
• Fisheries Survey of India (FSI): Government of India body conducting fisheries surveys and resource assessments. Comparable as a peer public-sector fisheries institution operating under the Ministry of Agriculture, providing research services and policy inputs.
• WorldFish: Global CGIAR-affiliated research organization focused on aquatic food systems in developing countries. Comparable as an international aquaculture/fisheries research body conducting genetics, breeding, and farming systems research with a development mandate.
• Norwegian Institute of Marine Research (Havforskningsinstituttet): Norway's national marine and aquaculture research institute conducting applied and basic research on aquaculture species, health, and feed. Comparable in role as a national-level government aquaculture research body, though focused on marine/cold-water species rather than freshwater.
• Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA): Intergovernmental organization supporting aquaculture development across Asia-Pacific governments. Comparable as an institutional peer coordinating aquaculture R&D, training, and policy support across member countries—overlapping CIFA's regional mandate.

Direct peers

• ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture (CIBA): Sister ICAR institute focused on brackishwater aquaculture research, technology development, and farmer training. Closely comparable as a peer government research body under ICAR with a parallel mandate, multi-division structure, hatchery facilities, and Regional Research Centres.
• ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): ICAR's premier marine fisheries research institute operating multiple research centres across India. Highly comparable as a peer government fisheries/aquaculture research body with hatchery operations, training programs, and technology commercialization.
• ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI): ICAR institute focused on inland fisheries research, open-water fisheries management, and related technology transfer. Comparable in organizational structure (ICAR autonomous institute), research depth, and farmer/stakeholder outreach model.

Others

• Mowi ASA: Global salmon farming leader with extensive in-house aquaculture R&D, genetics, and feed operations. Not a direct competitor (different species/geography) but a useful reference for what scaled, vertically integrated aquaculture R&D looks like commercially.

Emerging players

• Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): One of the world's largest aquaculture producers operating shrimp and fish farming with integrated feed and genetics operations. Adjacent peer rather than direct competitor—CIFA's research output (especially feed formulations and improved breeds) directly shapes the operating environment for CPF and similar commercial producers in India.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-institute-of-freshwater-aquaculture

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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