Pig farming is gaining momentum day by day in Punjab-Dr. Verma

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana strive its best to promote livestock farming as a sustainable entrepreneurship through various means. In the continuation of these efforts GADVASU organized a one week training programme on Pig Farming as a viable entrepreneurship. A total of 45 candidates including three from neighbouring states attended the training. in the valedictory function Dr. H.K. Verma, Director Extension Education, told that university since its inception year 2006, promoting livestock farming amongst the youths especially educated & unemployed as a mean of earning their livelihood. He told that livestock sector has various bunches of option to adopt like dairy farming, poultry farming, goat farming, fish farming and pig farming value addition of livestock produce, feed manufacturing etc. one can adopt as per likeliness and resource available. Dr. S.K. Kansal, Head, Department of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension Education, GADVASU, while speaking on this occasion told that Pig farming is gaining popularity in the state as they are getting lot of queries regarding pig farming and applications for pig training. Dr. Ravdeep Singh & Dr. Khushpreet Singh coordinators of this training told that trainees were apprised with various topics like breeds, breeding, management, shed design, weather management, vaccination protocols, diseases and their prevention, value addition of pork, mycotoxins, economics etc. Dr. Ravdeep Singh further told that beside lectures practical training on handling of pig, measuring temperature, sign of healthy animals were also provided to the trainee. To make the trainee practically aware about all aspects a visit was also arranged to S. Sukhwinder Singh Kotli, a progressive pig farmer’s farm at village Kotli. Mr. Parveen Bhatia, DDM NABARD, Ludhiana was specially invited to provide the information on role of banking sector in promoting pig farming. Under the aegis of GADVASU, various farmers associations are also functional (viz pig, goat, fish etc) and a good number farmers also became members of the progressive pig farmers association which organize its meeting on last Thursday of the month. It is important to mention that farmers from adjoining states are coming to GADVASU for pig farming training and university is also promoting this farming by honouring the farmers with Chief Minster's award in the annual Pashu Palan Mela told Dr Verma.