The grant of grade A to the Frozen Semen Bank in Cuttack by the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) constituted by the Union Government has brought cheers to the State Fisheries and Animal Resources Department (FARD) authorities.
The CMU constituted by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Union Ministry of Agriculture, had visited the Frozen Semen Bank in March 2013.“The CMU team evaluated 51 Frozen Semen Banks located throughout the country and the scrupulously evaluated the facility at Cuttack as per the Minimum Standard Protocol as prescribed by the Central Government and awarded ‘A’ Grade with a score of 80.20 per cent marks, which is a great achievement,” said an elated FARD Commissioner-cum-Secretary Bishnupada Sethi.
During the year 2010-11, the Frozen Semen Bank, Cuttack had been awarded ‘B’ grade with a score of 71.20 per cent of marks.“Now, with the Grade A advantage, the institute will be able to get adequate financial and technical support from the Union Government for infrastructure development and continual improvement under the scheme National Dairy Plan (NDP)-I,” said Sethi.
Besides, the facility would get an opportunity to participate in cattle development by selling semen straws to the desiring States, the Milk Federations and NGOs. The entire workforce of Frozen Semen Bank would be highly motivated to march forward to achieve excellence in the field of cattle breeding and dairy development, said official sources.Notably, the Frozen Semen Bank, Cuttack is the only pioneer institute of the FARD for the State’s artificial insemination programme since 1978. During the year 2013-14, the semen bank had produced eight lakh doses of frozen semen and during the year 2014-15 it is slated to produce 10-12 lakh doses.
It is also an ISO 9001-2008 certified institute since March 2014 for maintaining quality production of semen in accordance with the Minimum Standard Protocol framed by the Union Government.
“The award of ‘A’ grade will motivate the farmers to adopt frozen semen technology to improve their livelihood. Besides, the artificial insemination programme of the State will be enhanced, resulting in better dairy development and enhanced milk production,” said Sethi.