ICAR-NOFRI Promoted Scientific Deep Litter Housing For Improved Piggery In South Sikkim
Pig is the most important livestock of Sikkim as 100% of the tribal population consumes pork. Pig farming can be a profitable enterprise as pig is prolific breeder, consumes variety of feed stuff with higher feed conversion efficiency and produces quality manure. In view of these advantages, the need to promote pig production in Sikkim cannot be over-emphasized. Hence, ICAR-KVK, East Sikkim organized day long farmers meeting cum input distribution programme under Tribal Sub Plan (TSP) project at Bakhim Kewzing, South Sikkim on June 7, 2017. During the program, 24 farmers and rural youths participated and a total of 10 numbers of weaned quality piglets were distributed among 05 selected tribal beneficiaries. Under the TSP project, 05 numbers of low cost pig sties under deep litter system were also constructed in the farm premises of selected tribal beneficiaries.
The programme was conducted under the leadership of Dr. R.K. Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR- NOFRI, Tadong, Gangtok and in presence of Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Senior Scientist (Animal Reproduction & Gynaecology). Addressing the tribal farmers, Dr. Islam elaborated on importance of scientific pig production in rural Sikkim for employment generation. He also discussed about backyard poultry production technologies with Vanaraja birds to enhance production for better income generation and explained about the prevention and control measures of major diseases of pig and poultry.
During the farmers meeting an interaction programme was also held. The scientist of ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong and Subject Matter Specialists from ICAR-KVK, East Sikkim interacted with the progressive tribal farmers about existing pig rearing practices and different constraints to which possible approaches were suggested for making pig farming as a profitable venture.
Dr. P.K Pathak, SMS (Animal Science), ICAR-KVK, East Sikkim briefed about the advantages of scientific pig rearing in low cost pig house under deep litter system which was designed and developed with locally available natural resources for high rainfall, mid and high altitude area in ICAR-NOFRI, Tadong. Further, he emphasized the method of scientific pig feeding by incorporation of low cost locally available feed resources to minimize the cost of feeding to enhance the profit margin. He also interacted with the farmers about their different problems in livestock farming and their possible solution.
Dr. N. Johnson Singh, SMS (Plant Protection) KVK, East Sikkim, Ranipool provided the information on pests and disease management on major crops of South Sikkim under organic production systems. In addition, Dr. Singh emphasized on integrated management of diseases by using healthy resistant seeds, clean cultivation practices and biological control for vegetables production.
Issued by: ICAR-KVK, East Sikkim
Piglet’s distribution among the tribal beneficiaries of South Sikkim under TSP project
