Scientist and Farmers deliberate on Challenges and Prospects of Small Ruminants Pastoralist

9^th October, 2022, Garsa, Kullu

ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Zone-I, Ludhiana in collaboration with ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar organized a Workshop-cum-Scientist-Farmer Interaction on “Present Status, Challenges and Prospects of Small Ruminants Pastoralist” at the Northern Temperate Research Station of ICAR-CSWRI here today.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana in his address urged the KVK Scientists to work whole heartily for the welfare of the farmer community. He exhorted the farmers to keep themselves updated with the latest technologies developed by the research institutes.

The Guest of Honour, Shri Suresh Chandel, former MP and Member ICAR Governing Body suggested skill-oriented curriculum in agriculture and allied sciences that can provide suitable ecosystem for self-employment of the agri-graduates. While congratulating both the ICAR Institutes for this initiative, he expressed eagerness to conduct such kind of events for the benefit of farming community.

Dr. Parveen Kumar Malik, former Animal Husbandry Commissioner, GoI urged the research Institutes and farmers to extend the scope of livestock farming through various entrepreneurial initiatives. He urged farmers to work in groups to harness the benefits of government schemes

Dr. Rajbir Singh, Director, ICAR-ATARI, Ludhiana emphasized on collaborative work to chalk out successful models for sheep development. He highlighted the scope of pashmina wool in Changthang valley, which needs special attention with respect to marketing of the produce. He finally expressed concerns with respect to climate change especially in hills, which demands suitable technological interventions for profitable livestock production.

Dr. Arun Kumar Tomar, Director, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar briefed about the technologies developed by the Institute. He urged the Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) to create awareness among the farmers for adoption of improved sheep farming technologies.

Dr. Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, Director of Extension Education, SKUAST-Kashmir highlighted the various issues related to nomadic pastoralist. He urged the Institute to provide technical backstopping to overcome the health problems like Foot Rot and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), which is more common in migratory sheep population.

Dr. Mandeep Sharma, Dean, Dr. G C Negi College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Palampur briefed about the importance of livestock in Indian culture and preservation of the traditional livestock practices for environmental sustainability.

Earlier, Dr. Omhari Chaturvedi, Incharge NTRS, Garsa briefed about the history and mandate of the center for Sheep development in hilly areas of North India.

The participants deliberated on major issues of livestock farming in detail during the technical sessions. Progressive farmers from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh shared their views and live exhibitions of latest technologies were the highlight of the program.

More than 350 farmers along with KVK and ICAR Scientists actively participated in the workshop.

(Source: ICAR-Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute, Ludhiana)