Silver Jubilee 25th Pashu Palan Mela at GADVASU - Veterinary Varsity

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana inaugurated its 25^th Pashu Palan Mela on 20^th September 2018. Sh.V.P.Singh Badnore, Governor of Punjab was chief guest of the mela whereas Janab Hamid Karzai, former president of Afghanistan was guest of honor at this occasion.Sh. Badnore said that farmers of Punjab may take a lead in crop residue management. Tenacity of farmers of Punjab is not hidden to anybody.  He hoped that the farmers will control this evil with their prudence and in this season we will not see any incident of stubble burning. While taking about livestock profession and connection of crop residue management he revealed that we can use this by-product of agriculture in many other ways. Dr. Amarjit Singh Nanda, Vice-Chancellor, GADVASU said that diversification within the livestock is need of the hour. Theme slogan of this Mela was “Vigyanak Nukte Nasal Sudhar, Dugni Aamdan Laye Bahar”. He said that we are conducting a number of efforts to explore the new avenues in livestock. He also sensitized farmers for adulteration of milk for the wellbeing of our generations.

He said that fish, pig and goat farming are very profitable ventures if we develop in scientific manner as well as poultry is also very commercialized now a days. Value additions of products also provide add on profit in comparison to conventional livestock professions. Dr. Baldev Singh Dhillon, Vice-Chancellor, PAU, members Board of Management, GADVASU also graced the occasion.GADVASU showcased all his research, education and extension programmes 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 two days 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 has come up in the livestock sector.

Dr H. K. Verma, Director of Extension Education revealed that large number of peoples showed their interest in taking up goat, pig and fish farming and especially enquired about their training programmes. University publications on different subjects of livestock farming were also available. Different Departments of University provided useful literature to the farmers. Special interactive session on livestock rearing in the scientific way was organised consisting of live lectures form experts, questions and answer from participants.

Various departments of College of Vety 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, Pigs, Poultry, Emu and Quails were 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 sale of milk testing kit, Mastitis Diagnosis kit, teat dip practice and acaricide drug application were also demonstrated to the farmers.

An earnest endeavour by the College of Fisheries was the stall having various carp fishes, ornamental fish, Shrimp farming, azolla, duckweed cultivation and integration of fish farming with other livestock farming. People inquired about 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. Meat cutlets, Non-veg Momos, fibre rich meat biscuits were main attractions in the mela.

Enormous 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 By–pass 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 response among the aspiring farmers and visiting rural youth.

Farmers showed great interest in university publications. Directorate of Extension Education has published a number of books in simple regional language on very low price. Farmer showed keen interest for registering their name for monthly magazine ‘Vigyanak Pashu Palan’. New books, pamphlet, calf calendar, feeding calendar and pamphlets were released in the mela. All the leading Veterinary Pharmaceuticals companies, Dairy & livestock related equipments, feed related factories put their stalls in 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 nook and corner of Punjab along with farmers from neighbouring states. Mela was also attended by dignitaries, Officers, heads of departments, faculty, students and staff. There was  Pashu Palan Mela held for two days (20 and 21 September 2018).