Farm and fisheries experts on Tuesday advocated for a big push inland saline aquaculture especially in the waterlogged areas of Malwa region. Central Institute of Fisheries Education director and vice-chancellor Dr WS lakra, speaking on the opportunities and challenges in the sector, said that Punjab with 1.09 million hectare of salt affected area has tremendous scope for inland aquaculture.
He said that this land was unfit for sustainable agriculture crop besides surface-drainage system was uneconomic. “Culture of Milk Fish is being promoted as it has tolerance to variable salinities…we have been able to achieve 3,750 kg per hectare production per year,” he said. He also informed on culture of grey mullet with 1,320 kg per hectare for four month production.
Dr lakra also focused on culture of giant freshwater prawn tiger shrimp, white shrimp, pacific white shrimp that were witnessing increase market share. He said that Punjab with 99,000 tonnes fish production and with highest fish productivity of 6,560 kg per hectare, double than national average has ability to lead the nation.
EXPERTS URGE TO SET UP SEMEN PlANTS IN PUNJAB
For increasing milk productivity and strengthening dairy farming infrastructure, the experts from across the country suggested setting up semen plants, and domestication of local breed of milching cows for commercial dairy farming.
Former Animal Husbandry Commissioner of Central Government Dr AS Nanda, while speaking on the issue of breed improvement, insemination, cross breeding, specifically asked the farmers to promote the local breed.
He said that due to global climate change and increase of temperature, “it is hard to rare to foreign breed of milch cattle so if authorities promote local Sahiwal, Neeli Ravi and Muraah breeds in proper and scientific manner, these local breeds can definitely match the quality and productivity of foreign breeds in next 20-25 years”.
Dr Nanda informed that foreign breeds especially American and Canadian graze much fodder due to their built whereas cattle from India and New Zealand graze comparatively less fodder as they are dwarf.
He further stressed on the need of setting up semen plants in India as exports of semen is much costlier. “Silage system is key to promote quality and quantity of fodder,” he added.
Assistant Director General HRD of National Agriculture Research Council (NARC) Dr Kusmakar Sharma said that the milk productivity is directly proportional to the standard of fodder being supplied to the cattle. “Farmers should minutely look after fodder for nearly four month after insemination of the milch cattle,” he added.
EXPERTS FOR FUTURISTIC AGRI MARKETING, RISK MANAGEMENT MECHANISM
Agri-experts from across the country on Tuesday underlined the need for futuristic agricultural marketing coupled with effective risk management. “The model of collective marketing and usage of machinery is a must for farming sector to reduce its agriculture input costs which is the main cause of increasing debt on state farmers that led to farmers’ suicide,” said PAU vice-chancellor Dr BS Dhillon, chairing the session on ‘Agricultural Marketing and Risk Management’.
PAU professor Dr Sukhpal Singh advocated for more relief and benefit of subsidies to marginal farmers as three lakh such farmers were getting just six per cent share in subsidies. He also suggested for setting up of Farmers Income Commission. Bhavdeep Sardana of Sukhjit Starch Mills suggested to set up an umbrella certification authority to certify land and produce of farmers.
National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research’s director Dr Ramesh Chand said that growth was must for keeping intact the food security and futuristic marketing was an answer to the challenge.
REARING OF SMAll RUMINANTS IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR
Dr Baljit Singh, professor and Associate Dean (Research) University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, stressed on the need of rearing small ruminants.
“Crop farming is no longer viable as primary economic source because of rising input costs. Increased use of insecticides and pesticides is leading to rise in incidence of cancer therefore venturing into other allied sectors is the need of the hour,” he said exhorting the small and marginal farmers besides landless agriculture labourers and unplanned youth to opt for scientific economic goat rearing besides intensive pig farming to supplement their income besides giving a big push to diversification of agricultural economy.
Dr Ashok Kumar, principal scientist Central Institute for Research on Goats at Mathura, claimed that goat is the ‘future animal’ as it requires as low initial investment, less housing requirement, and its meat is low on cholesterol and relatively good for health. “It is best suited animal to varied climatic conditions and there is less risk in goat farming as compare to other livestock,” he added.