ICAR-NOFRI, Sikkim and ICAR-NDRI, Kalyani Jointly Organized Animal Health Camp and Training Programme at Rangtu and Nandok, East Sikkim
ICAR –National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI), Tadong, Gangtok in collaboration with ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, ERS, Kalyani, Nadiya, W.B organized animal health camp, farmers interaction and training programme on management of dairy cattle for increased milk production and backyard poultry farming for production of chicken meat and eggs from Vanaraja chicken on February 01, 2018 in two villages of East Sikkim namely Rangtu and lower Nandok. Dr. Ravikant Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI attended the programme as Chief Guest. From ICAR-NOFRI, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Principal Scientist (Animal Reproduction & Gynaecology) and Dr. P. K. Pathak, SMS (Animal Science), KVK, Ranipool and from ICAR-NDRI, Kalyani, Dr. Ashok Santra (Pr. Scientist), Dr. Champak Bhakat (Pr. Scientist), Dr. Asif Mohammad (Scientist), Dr. Amitava Ghosh (CTO) and Dr. Prabir Saha (CTO) participated as resource persons. More than 50 dairy and poultry farmers at village Rangtu actively participated in the programme. The dairy cattle and goat presented at the camp were treated, and cattle feed and mineral plus vitamin supplements were distributed to the farmers targeting increased milk production with higher fat percent. A scientist-farmer’s interaction programme was also organised wherein many farmers actively raised their problems on dairy farming. Repeat breeding, anoestrus and parasitic infestations were reported to be the major problems in livestock in the Rangtu area. The Scientists from the two renowned ICAR institutes responded and advised in response to the queries of the dairy farmers.
Coordinating programmes, Dr. Rafiqul Islam, Principal Scientist, ICAR-NOFRI welcomed Dr. Ravikant Avasthe, Joint Director, ICAR-NOFRI, team of Scientists from the two ICAR Institutes and the dairy farmers of Rangtu area. He explained to the farmers about the objectives of the programme and also drew the attention of the dairy farmers to provide balanced feed and mineral supplements to their animals for augmenting milk production and preventing the animals from infertility. He reiterated that each adult cow should deliver a full term healthy calf with an interval of every 12-13 months. Otherwise the dairy farming would not be economic and sustainable. He also detailed the farmers about the management of Vanaraja chicken for increased meat and egg production and to reduce early chick mortality.
From ICAR-NDRI, Dr. Ashok Santra (Principal Scientist), explained to the farmers about the importance of feeding quality feeds and fodders to the dairy animals. Dr. Santra informed that the inputs like balanced feed and mineral plus vitamin supplements were arranged for the dairy farmers of Sikkim under the NDRI-NEH project component for dairy development. He told that each adult dairy cattle requires 2 kg concentrate feed for maintenance and 1 kg additional feed to be provided on production of each 2.5 litre of milk production. He impressed upon the farmers to deworm the animals periodically to maintain better health of the dairy animals to obtain better production in the form of milk and calves. Vaccinations against the prevailing diseases need to be carried out for preventing the animals from various diseases.
Smt. Sharmila Chettri, Zilla Upadhyaksha, East Sikkim greeted the team of Scientists for organizing such important programme on dairy and poultry development along with bringing inputs for the cause of increased milk production. On her behalf, Smt. Pabitra Sharma, Panchayat member Rangtu addressed the gathering and expressed her opinion and invited the farmers to adopt the technologies demonstrated by the scientists in the programme.
Later inputs like more than 400 nos. of Vanaraja day old chicks, cattle feed and mineral plus vitamin supplements were distributed to the dairy and poultry farmers at Rangtu.
Addressing the programme as Chief Guest, Dr. Ravikant Avasthe highlighted the importance of livestock farming for the economic development of hill states in general and organic cultivation in particular. He advised the farmers to opt for integrated farming with the incorporation of diversified livestock as major component to earn more income and also to sustain in organic farming practices. Dr. Avasthe stressed upon the farmers to produce sufficient farmyard manure by raising livestock for application in their field for enhancing soil fertility. He invited the farmers to rear the livestock and poultry on scientific lines to increase the profits as well as to contribute for development of the economy of the state. He opined that Vanaraja chicken is well adapted at backyards in the agro-climatic conditions of Sikkim and has high potential for rearing in organic farming and therefore, it is already popular amongst the farming community.
In the afternoon, the Scientist-farmer’s interaction-cum training programme was also conducted at village lower Nandok, East Sikkim for the dairy farmers of that area by the team of Scientists. More than 40 livestock farmers actively participated in the programme. Cattle feed and mineral plus vitamin supplements were also distributed to all farmers at Nandok. Smt. Phurba Doma, Panchayat member, lower Nandok conveyed thanks and gratefulness to the ICAR-NOFRI and ICAR-NDRI for organizing the programme with the distribution of huge quantity of inputs for dairy development. Dr. Padam Lal Luitel, SRF, ICAR-NOFRI rendered active support for running the programmes.
Animal Health Camp at Rangtu, East Sikkim
Training Programme at lower Nandok, East Sikkim
- Issued by ICAR-NOFRI, Gangtok
