Department of V&AH to roll out several initiatives including establishment of Rs 11 crore duck farm
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2019:
The Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Director Dr H Chaoba has conveyed that the department is rolling out several initiatives for poultry farming and animal husbandry including the setting up of a Rs 11 crore duck farm at Ningthoukhong.
He was speaking as the guest of honour at the inaugural function of a three-month vocational training programme on scientific poultry production for unemployed youth and school dropout youth of Manipur, held at the conference hall of College of Agriculture, CAU, Imphal today.
The Director went on to explain that the duck farm which is being set up at the estimated cost of Rs 11 crore will have the capacity of rearing 10,000 poultry birds at one time.
Admitting that the State's Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department was unable to take up any significant developmental works on poultry farming for many years owing to the dismantlement of major poultry farms at Chingmeirong and Porompat for construction of Capitol Project and JNIMS Hospital, Chaoba further stated that a new Central poultry farm is also being set up at Khumbong in Imphal West district.
He further informed that a programme, including poultry and piggery, will also be rolled out soon under the National Livestock Mission adding that the process of selection/approval of beneficiaries for the said programme will begin soon at respective districts.
Saying that the programme under National Livestock Mission will amount to a total value of Rs 5 crore and 5 lakh, he requested all interested persons to apply for the said programme.
The Director added that a fishery project, with a target of producing 60,000 metric tons of fishes, is being taken up in the State with an aim of achieving self-sufficient fish farming and to stop importing fishes in the State by 2020 .
Speaking as the chief guest, CAU, Lamphelpat Vice Chancellor M Premjit claimed that CAU is rapidly flourishing and has achieved 13 th rank in the rankings of Central Agricultural Universities existing in India.
He said that the university has produced 119 numbers of researchers in Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) .
The VC said that the vocational training programme which began today was taken up with the main objective of creating an avenue for self employment and economic empowerment in the State thereby enhancing the skills of the jobless and poverty stricken youth.
He also expressed his desire to enroll more number of women in such vocational training courses while maintaining that women in Manipuri society have been actively engaging in the economic activities since time immemorial and that they need more economic empowerment in the run to take the society forward.
Premjit also called for sincere efforts and innovative ideas from the farmers while observing that the, combination of scientific knowledge and farmers' innovative ideas in agriculture and allied sectors will make the sector compatible and successful in Manipur.
Contending that poultry feed can be produced if maize and other plant ingredients are cultivated in mass scale, the Vice Chancellor opined that poultry farming will be highly profitable if poultry feeds are produced here in Manipur.
College of Agriculture (COA), CAU, Iroishemba Dean Professor JM Laishram and Director of Instruction, CAU, Lamphelpat Dr S Basanta Singh also attended the function as president and guest of honour respectively.
The dignitaries also released training manuals and leaflets during the inaugural function of the vocational training programme which was participated by 30 farmers from across the State.
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