LUDHIANA: Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana will organize two days Pashu Palan Mela on March 15 and 16, 2019.
While briefing about mela, Dr. AS Nanda Vice Chancellor GADVASU said that diversification is the core issue now a days in agriculture and we will aware and encourage farmers to adopt livestock on scientific lines through this mela. He said that livestock is best option for diversification. Dr. Nanda explained that diversification within the livestock enterprise is also a need of the hour. Not only Dairy farming but Fisheries, Poultry, Piggery and Goat farming are the good diversification options in livestock. The Value addition of livestock Products ensures better profitability in these professions. GADVASU is undertaking research to develop newer technologies in livestock. Krishi Vigyan Kendras and Regional Research Centers situated at different places of Punjab of Vet Varsity are also extending major services and inputs for enhancing the production from livestock he added. He said that this mela will be based on the theme to encourage masses to adopt livestock in professional manner with an objective to double the income of farmers. Mela Slogan is ‘Uttpadan di Gunvatta Vadhao, Pashu Palan ton Vadh Labh Kamao' means 'Develop value added Livestock Products and earn more profit'.
He said that University will confer awards to the progressive farmers in the field of Dairy, Fish, Goat, Poultry, Pig farming as well as Value Addition of Livestock products in the mela. These awards were initiated to boost the livestock sector in the state and will consist of cash prize as well as citation and shawl.
Dr. Harish Kumar Verma, Director of Extension Education, GADVASU said that in the Pashu Palan Mela the varsity’s elite animals will be exhibited to motivate farmers to breed superior livestock by getting the improved germplasm from the University. Books on Dairy Farming, Pig Farming, Goat Farming and Package of Practices for Animal Husbandry and GADVASU Magazine ‘Vigyanak Pashu Palan’ will also be available to the farmers.
Dr Verma said that Mineral mixture, Uromin lick, Bye pass fat prepared by the university will also be sold at nominal rates. Hoof trimming, teat dip practice, acaricide drug applications, urea treatment of wheat straw, preparation of uromin lick, Bypass fat, bypass protein and silage will be demonstrated at mela. Milk and meat processing technologies for value addition will also be discussed. The livestock farmers will be provided testing facilities for nitrate poisoning of fodders, mastitis testing, testing of faeces, mucous, milk and feed samples. Farmers can bring the samples of blood, faeces, urine and skin scrappings for getting them tested for various diseases. The testing facility will be free during Mela days. Brucellosis testing in animals as well as human beings will also be done. A milk testing kit will also be on sale for checking five common adulterants like sugar, starch, urea, neutralizer and hydrogen peroxide. University recommendations in the form of live lectures, question answer sessions will also be separately arranged for the farmers on both the days.
Separate stall will be put up do deal with the farm women's queries. Since the admission to the various undergraduates programmes of varsity is to be undertaken shortly, special helpline stall for the students seeking admission in various academic programmes as well as various training programmes related with livestock, poultry and fisheries sector will also be in the Mela.
Different departments of the College of Veterinary Science, College of Dairy Science and College of Fisheries will arrange exhibitions to display the new techniques and practices for the benefit of the farmers. All the developmental organizations of the state including Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Department of Fishery; Cooperative organization viz Milkfed and Markfed will put up stalls in the exhibition. During this fair other important private sector organizations dealing with production/marketing of animal feeds, medicine, vaccines, animal germplasm, animal farm machinery, milk & meat processing machinery, fodder seed and banking institutions will provide valuable information and know-how to the livestock farmers.
Various livestock associations being run under the guidance of university and Self-Help Groups will also put up stalls. A large number of livestock farmers not only from the Punjab state but also from the adjoining states mostly Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal and J&K are expected to visit the mela.