The Birsa Agricultural University (BAU) will now focus on aggressive efforts to increase rural income through improvement in veterinary products. BAU Vice- Chancellor Parvinder Kaushal said on Monday that veterinary scientists working in Jharkhand had to take up the mammoth task of reducing difference between national productivity and State productivity in fields of veterinary-related produce.
Addressing inaugural session of two-day national seminar on Face Changing of Rural Economy through Upscalling and Outscalling of Innovations in the Field of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kaushal raised concern over Jharkhand lagging much behind national average of veterinary products.
“The country has witnessed crop production growing four times, horticulture and milk production six times each, fish production nine times and egg production growing 27 times since Independence. However, Jharkhand is lagging much behind national average of production of these items. Our egg availability per person per year is merely 13 in comparison to national average of 55, animal protein availability only 5 grams in comparison to national average of 15 grams and global average of 25 grams,” said Kaushal.
He added that the fact that 98 per cent of the animals in State still waiting for breed nomenclature was an example of how miserably the State failed to utilize available information technology in the field of animal husbandry so far. “Animal husbandry scientists will have to take mammoth task of minimizing this gap through optimum utilization of newly developed techniques in animal husbandry,” said Kaushal.
The University also organised alumni meet of former students of Ranchi Veterinary College parallel to the seminar. NABARD Chief General Manager SK Mandal said on the occasion that dairy and animal husbandry could play important role in improving rural economy in a State which suffered from lack of irrigation facilities. “In comparison to national milk availability per person per day of 302 grams, availability in Jharkhand flickers around 171 grams. NABARD is playing important role in empowerment of self help groups of women, small and marginalized farmers and farm labourers, and is trying to provide jobs to them,” said Mandal.
Taking dignitaries to the ride of history and achievements of Veterinary College, faculty of veterinary professor Dr AK Srivastava said that dairy animals in Garhwa, Jamtara, Chaibasa, Simdega, Palamu, Saraikela and other districts were facing fertility related diseases and issues which demanded extensive awareness drive in those regions about better nutrition management.
Many professors including Dr BK Roy, Dr BK Singh, Dr KK Singh, Dr MK Gupta, Dr DK Thakur, Dr AR Deb and Dr MP Sinha presented their research papers during technical sessions.