Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension Education of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana organized three trainings simultaneously for rural youth of the state.
These trainings were on Dairy Farming, Pig Farming and Goat Farming. Due to ongoing pandemic, the number of participants was limited to 10-12 per training. The trainees were given basic theoretical as well as practical knowledge about starting a new venture in livestock farming.
The important topics included selection and identification of livestock breeds and breeding strategies, shelter management, feeding management, reproductive management and, marketing and value addition of livestock produce.
The concluding session of these trainings was chaired by Dr Inderjeet Singh, Vice-Chancellor of the University. He stressed on the need of adopting livestock farming as business enterprise. He cited many examples of rural graduates who have taken up integrated livestock farming as a business in the neighboring state of Haryana.
Those graduates who once used to seek employment at other business houses now employ more than 500 persons at their own farms. He motivated the farmers by explaining them the importance of buffalo rearing. Rearing even one adult buffalo can raise one family. He gave the well known example of buffalo “Laxmi” who was sold with a price tag of Rs 25.00 lakhs. This one buffalo changed the fortune of whole of the family. The chief-guest also distributed the certificates to the successful candidates.
Dr Parkash Singh Brar, Director of Extension Education told the audience about various activities undertaken by the University. He explained how this directorate helps the livestock farmers of the state in imparting latest technical knowledge at an affordable price.
Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Head of the department declared that more such trainings for livestock farmers will be organized in coming months. The backlog piled up due to suspension of trainings during Covid outbreak last year will be cleared up by increasing the number of participants to 20 per batch.
The interested farmers who want to update their knowledge can download the application forms from the university website www.gadvasu.in and submit the same in the Farmer Information Centre of the University. For any further enquiry, one can contact university at Farmer Helpline Number 0161-2414026.