Punjab CM Inaugurates Pashu Palan Mela at GADVASU

Pashu Palan Mela of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana was inaugurated by Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab. Laljit Singh Bhullar, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries & Dairy Development Minister, A Venu Prasad, IAS Additional Chief Secretary to CM, MLA’s of District Ludhiana, Dr. S.S. Gosal, VC, PAU, Members Board of Management, GADVASU also graced the occasion.

Mann visited different stalls of GADVASU and showed keen interest to know about different species of Livestock. He said that dairy farming is a profession that gives us daily earnings. He conversed with different farmers and discussed farming issues. The farmers were very happy while expressing their views to the chief minister.

Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU said that diversification of livestock is the key factor to improve the income of the farmers. The theme slogan of this Mela was “Vigiyan da fado larh, Sikhran te jao charh”. He said that scientific interventions in the livestock professions are needed of the time. He said that we are conducting a number of efforts to explore new avenues in livestock. He informed that these are very profitable ventures if done in a scientific manner. Value addition of products also provides add-on profit in comparison to the traditional way of livestock farming.

GADVASU showcased all his research, education, and extension programs at the Pashu Palan mela for the benefit of livestock farmers. Taking place twice a year in March & September it brings with its zest & excitement. This mela is happening after three years in the physical mode due to corona restriction. This two-day event at the Mela ground of GADVASU provided a platform for farmers, scientists, extension workers, Dairy officers, Fodder & Fisheries officers, various veterinary pharmaceuticals and agribusiness firms, and banking sectors for showing their experience and information about the latest knowledge, technologies, and schemes which have come up in the livestock sector.

Dr. Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education revealed that a large number of people showed their interest in taking up goat, pig, and fish farming and especially enquired about their training programs. University publications on different subjects of livestock farming were also available. Different Departments of universities provided useful literature to the farmers. A special interactive session on livestock rearing in a scientific way was organized consisting of live lectures from experts and question-answers for participants.

Various departments of the College of Veterinary Science put up their stall in the Mela and tried their best to transfer valuable inputs and recommendations to the farmers. The excellent germplasm of the University such as Cows, Buffaloes, Goats, and Poultry was demonstrated to the livestock farmers. The experts delivered talks on the various aspects of livestock, poultry, and fish farming and the mechanism and procedures to overcome the common problems faced by them. Live demonstrations on the various aspects along with the sale of Milk testing kits, Mastitis Diagnosis kits, Teat dip practices, and acaricide drug applications were also demonstrated to the farmers.

An earnest endeavor by the College of Fisheries was the stall having various carp fishes, ornamental fish, Azolla, duckweed cultivation, and integration of fish farming with other livestock farming. People inquired about the Fisheries profession, ornamental fish & saline water fisheries. Value-added products of this college were also displayed on their stall for sale.

Different mouth-watering vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies like Sweetened and Salted lassi, Flavoured milk, Yoghurt, Sweets, Whey drink, Paneer, Milk cake, Dhoda barfi, Meat patties, different types of Meat pickles prepared by College of Dairy Science & Technology and the Department of Livestock Products Technology were available for sale.

A large number of livestock farmers visited the stall put up by the Animal Nutrition Department to purchase the area-specific mineral mixture, mineral mixture for pigs Bypass fat and uromin lick prepared by the University which is sold at a very nominal rate to the farmers. Different Self-Help Groups trained by Vet Varsity also put up their value-added products for depiction, exhibition, and sale. This has evoked excellent responses among aspiring farmers and visiting rural youth.

Farmers showed great interest in university publications. The Directorate of Extension Education has published a number of books in simple regional language at a very low price. Farmers showed keen interest in registering their names for the monthly magazine ‘Vigiyanak Pashu Palan’.

All the leading Veterinary pharmaceutical companies, Dairy & livestock-related equipment, feed related factories put their stalls on the exhibition. The departments like Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries of Punjab State put up their stalls in the Mela for demonstrating their activities. Different livestock associations established under the guidance of Veterinary University also put up their stalls for enrolling the members.

The Mela allures thousands of farmers from all the nooks and corners of Punjab along with farmers from neighboring states. The Mela was also attended by dignitaries, Officers, heads of departments, faculty, students, and staff. The Pashu Palan Mela will be held for two days (23 and 24 September 2022).